Exhibition "In the Forests of Borneo"
Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc.
Family: Araceae
Geographical distribution: Indonesia (West Sumatra)
Amorphophallus titanum in bloom at the Botanic Garden of the University of Bonn. Michael Neumann & Wilhelm Barthlott, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. boasts one of the most extraordinary inflorescences in the plant kingdom. Also known as the “corpse flower,” it owes this name to the nauseating odor it emits, reminiscent of decaying flesh.This “scent” is the result of an evolutionary strategy, useful for attracting pollinators with less refined tastes. The inflorescence can exceed 2.5 meters in height and 1.5 meters in diameter, accompanied by a single leaf up to 6 meters tall.
At its center lies the spadix, wrapped by the purple spathe, which not only protects the male and female flowers but also serves to attract pollinators. A peculiar evolutionary trait, common to many Araceae, is the ability to produce heat through chemical reactions, mainly in the sterile upper portion of the spadix, reaching temperatures of up to 38°C. This mechanism enhances the diffusion of the odor, thereby maximizing the attraction of insect pollinators.
Native to Sumatra, it grows only in certain mountainous bands of tropical forest, on humid, well-ventilated slopes, often near rivers and streams where the microclimate is more stable.
Today, however, its habitat is rapidly shrinking: deforestation, fires, unregulated harvesting, and climate change threaten the species, which is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List. Much of the natural area suitable for the titan arum’s survival could disappear in the coming decades, making encounters with this exotic giant even rarer.
Amorphophallus titanum in bloom in 1889 at the Kew Botanic Garden. Natural History Museum of Florence, Botanical Collections
Original specimen (paratype) of Amorphophallus titanum. Natural History Museum of Florence, Botanical Collections (Inv. no. FI018984)
Vases containing fruits of Amorphophallus titanum. Natural History Museum of Florence, Botanical Collections