A pair of beautiful
plants with blooms as erratic as their odor is pungent is likely to make a
short-lived appearance this month in the Tropical Conservatory at Marie Selby
Botanical Gardens. These "corpse plants" have massive blooms that
smell like rotting flesh. The last time two corpse plants bloomed together at
Selby Gardens was in 1999. Therefore; that time the largest plant reached a
height of approximately 5 feet. The full bloom lasts only a few days. The
corpse plant, or Amorphophallus titanium, is native to Sumatra. It's listed as
a threatened species and it infrequently blooms in captivity. Few visitors may
find the plant's appearance as unpleasant as its odor the name
"Amorphophallus" is derived from the Greek for "giant misshapen
penis." Every living thing has its beauty and purpose.
