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Rare Titan arum to Bloom
Mar 12 2010 - ITHACA, N.Y. – The extremely rare titan arum — also called the corpse plant — is expected to bloom in a Cornell University greenhouse this week. If the plant blooms, it will be one of only 130 such blooms recorded in history. Titan arum — Amorphophallus titanum — also known as the “corpse plant” or “corpse flower” is as rare as it is malodorous. It grows in the wild only in the rainforests of Sumatra and rarely blooms in cultivation. The inflorescence of the Titan can reach three meters or more in height — and when it does bloom, the flower emits a powerful odor that smells exactly like rotting meat. In the wild, the odor and deep purple color of the bloom entices insects to visit the plant and pollinate it. A Titan bloom only lasts a day or two, then the plant dies back. Cornell is opening the greenhouse to visitors for this historic bloom from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, March 13 until the bloom is complete. Large group visits from schools must be scheduled in advance.
