Titan Arum

The world's largest unbranched flower structure, smelling of rotting flesh/Plants

The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) produces the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, reaching heights of over 3 meters. Native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, it is famous for its overwhelming stench of decomposing flesh during bloom, earning it the nickname 'corpse flower.' This smell, combined with the deep red color of the inner spathe and heat generated by the flower (which can reach 36 C), attracts carrion beetles and flesh flies that serve as pollinators. The bloom lasts only 24 to 48 hours and occurs unpredictably, sometimes with gaps of 7 to 10 years between blooms. The underground corm can weigh over 90 kg.