Amorphophallus titanum flowering, 1901
The Titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum is known as the corpse flower in its native Indonesia because of the rancid smell, described by Curtiss Botanical magazine as a mixture of rotten fish and burnt sugar, which it emits as it flowers... Read more
Purchase This Item For Download
world rights, single editions, non exclusive use
Technical Details
Filename: p102 - 103 006838LA20120727-107 Titan Arum.jpg
Size: 6545 x 3851 (4.9MB)
Date: 12th February 2015
Credit: Copyright RBG Kew
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Owner URL: http://www.kew.org/
© RBG KEW
Amorphophallus titanum flowering, 1901
The Titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum is known as the corpse flower in its native Indonesia because of the rancid smell, described by Curtiss Botanical magazine as a mixture of rotten fish and burnt sugar, which it emits as it flowers. It caused a sensation when it first bloomed at Kew in June 1889; the odour attracted " many bluebottle flies" and visitors were greatly disturbed by the smell. The artist Matilda Smith, who recorded the first flowering endured many hours painting it and consequently felt ill. The inflorescence can grow to more than 2.5m and is surrounded by a single purple leaf. These photographs were taken over a four-day period during a later blooming in 1901
© RBG KEW
Media ID 10645190
Amorphophallus Titanum Black And White Botanic Garden Botanical Botanical Garden Botanical Gardens Flower History Mono Monochrome Rbg Kew Smell Titan Arum
Collections
> Botanical Art
> Curtis's Botanical Magazine
> History
> Kew at Work
> History
Filename: p102 - 103 006838LA20120727-107 Titan Arum.jpg