The titan arum or Amorphophallus titanum is a rare flowering plant found in the tropical forest of Sumatra. It was originally discovered by an Italian botanist, Odoardo Beccari, in Sumatra in 1878. The larger-than-life amorphophallus titanum is known for emitting a repulsive odor akin to rotting flesh to attract pollinators. The purple flower lasts only a day or two before collapsing. Due to its fragrance, the titan arum is also known as a carrion flower, the “Corpse flower”, or “Corpse plant” (in Indonesian, “bunga bangkai” – bunga means flower, while bangkai means corpse or cadaver).

The flower’s nasty smell attracts the house flies and beetles for pollination. This is one of the largest unbranched inflorescence i.e. a structure containing a few thousand male and female flowers. By the time the plant is ready to bloom it is over 10 feet tall.

This flower is rare because it blooms once in 13 years. Just the way Bramha Kamal blooms rarely, once in many years. But difference is Brahma Kamal is considered holy and emits a lovely fragrance.

The corpse flower is about to bloom in a week’s time in Lehman College’s green house. Check out the news item.

Ever wondered how you could store a beautiful dutch rose in its most beautiful form for as long as you can? Here’s a tip to do just that.

Take a candle (white and not colored one), and light it. Let the melting wax trickle on the flower covering it from all the angles possible. The wax settles on the flower petals. As the wax becomes solid around the shape of the rose, it will protect the rose.

There will be some initial color change due to heat of the wax, but as it cools down the you will notice that the rose will retain its shape and texture. Do this till you have completely covered the flower with wax. This way, the flower can be retained in the same form for many many weeks and months with the transparent coating of wax. Of course, if it falls the flower will break as the wax will make it solid and hard. This might get cumbersome with a bunch of roses, moreover a bunch lacks the magic that a single long-stemmed deep red dutch rose beholds. Put it in your favorite vase and let it bloom for a long long time.

You can do this and keep your roses close to your heart forever. Okay forever is stretching it a bit too far, anyways keep it as long as it lasts.