Rare Bloom of the Titan Arum Draws Crowds in Geelong

In November 2024, crowds gathered in Geelong (Australia) to witness the bloom of the Titan Arum, a rare flower known for its gigantic size, corpse-like scent, and fascinating pollination strategy.

Key Points

Unique Characteristics: The Titan Arum, also called Amorphophallus titanum, blooms only once a decade and can grow over 10 feet tall. Known as the “corpse flower” due to its stench of rotting flesh, it mimics this smell to attract carnivorous pollinators.
Pollination Strategy: By warming its spadix and exposing its red spathe, which resembles raw meat, the flower tricks flies and beetles, which carry its pollen to other blooms.
Lifecycle and Blooming Cycle: Stored energy in a large underground corm, weighing up to 45 kg, supports its rare bloom, which can exhaust the plant to the point of death after producing fruits.
Habitat and Conservation Status: Native to Sumatra’s rainforests, the Titan Arum is listed as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild.