The largest (unbranched) flower inflorescence in the world
Amorphophallus titanum -- also known as the "corpse plant," "corpse
flower". A. titanum grows naturally only in Sumatra in Indonesia,
although it is found around the world in greenhouses that compete for
the largest corpse flower plant. The Guinness Book of Records title
currently is held by a New Hampshire specimen that had a spadix
measuring 10-feet-2.25-inches tall in 2010. Counting the stem and
spadix, A. titanum can reach 20 feet tall. The corpse flower smells like
rotting meat to attract the flies and beetles that pollinate it. Even
more interesting, during the flowering phase, the plant
generates heat which
can be felt if you have the guts to stick your hand inside
the inflorescence.
The heat and the smell mimics an animal that has recently
died to
attract the flies that will pollinate the flower.
Scientific classification | |
---|---|
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
Order: | Alismatales |
Family: | Araceae |
Subfamily: | Aroideae |
Tribe: | Thomsonieae |
Genus: | Amorphophallus |
credits
http://www.sarracenia.com
untamedscience.com
Interesting one...
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