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Blooming great
At 2.27 metres (7ft 5in) high, the Amorphophallus titanum at the Botanical Garden in Basel is the largest flower in the world. (Copyright: Getty Images)

Amorphophallus titanum (from Ancient Greek amorphos, "without form, misshapen" + phallos, "phallus", and titan, "giant" ), known as the titan arum, is a flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. The titan arum's inflorescence is not as large as that of the talipot palm, Corypha umbraculifera, but the inflorescence of the talipot palm is branched rather than unbranched. (wikipedia)

Due to its odor, which is reminiscent of the smell of a decomposing mammal, the titan arum is characterized as a carrion flower, and is also known as the "corpse flower", or "corpse plant" (Indonesian: bunga bangkai â€" bunga means flower, while bangkai means corpse or cadaver). For the same reason, the title "corpse flower" is also attributed to the genus Rafflesia which, like the titan arum, grows in the rainforests of Sumatra. (wikipedia)


Two titan arum in Sumatra, Indonesia (ca. 1900-40); one in leaf, which can reach up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall, and one in bloom.

First of two plants, Kew Gardens, London, May 1, 2009

Second of two plants, Kew Gardens, London, May 1, 2009

Titan Arum, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, December 27, 2012

Plant finishing blooming, showing the male and female flowers at the base of the spadix

Morticia, Franklin Park Zoo, Boston MA USA, June 20 2012