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.