Plant enthusiasts get yourselves to Kew Gardens. The titan arum plant, sometimes referred to as the corpse flower, is in bloom.
The plant has evolved to attract pollinators that enjoy feeding on and reproducing on flesh. Plus, the plant is enormous, so if the scent isn't enough to draw you in, maybe the size will. It can grow at a rate of nearly 10cm a day to a height of around 3 metres.
Titan arum grows only in Sumatra's rainforests, yet a few are found in Kew Gardens in London. One of them is already in bloom and will only remain so for a few days at most, according to Kew. In fact June 5 is probably the last day to catch a glimpse of the enormous plant.
It's official, the Titan arum is in bloom! 💚
— Kew Gardens (@kewgardens) June 4, 2024
Known for it's horrid smell, this large plant only blooms for 24-36 hours. Make sure you stop by the Gardens to take a look (or sniff).
Can't make it this time? Keep an eye on our channels, as another Titan is set to bloom soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/tcdX6HhJTY
But, according to Kew Gardens, their second plant will soon bloom so the public is advised to follow Kew on social media and be ready to drop everything to visit when it does.
The plant's flower only lasts for a short while and the powerful scent is intended to draw in pollinators and insects as soon as possible.
The spadix, or flower spike, of titan arum emits heat when it is in bloom. According to researchers, this facilitates the smell's transmission and can draw pollinators from up to a half mile distant that enjoy feeding and reproducing on flesh.The dark reddish-purple interior of titan arum gives it a meat-like appearance, which attracts pollinators that enjoy flesh.Kew Gardens tickets are less expensive bought online in advance and are also available at the gate.
The flower was brought to Kew Gardens in the late 1800s, and its first bloom was recorded in 1889.
Titan arum drew such large crowds during its second bloom in Kew in 1926 that the police had to step in to keep them under control.
Once common in Sumatra's rainforests, deforestation and land degradation have made it vulnerable to extinction in the wild.
