Posted:
7/26/2024 |
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(CHESTERFIELD) For the first time, a rare Amorphophallus titanum plant is expected to bloom at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield.
Commonly known as a titan arum, or “corpse flower,” it is a large, fast-growing plant in the Aroid family. This native plant of Sumatra, Indonesia, is well known for the intense, foul odor it emits when blooming.
Although an increasing number of titan arums exist in cultivation, the plant is listed as Endangered in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species. The Garden grows these plants as part of its commitment to plant conservation. A titan arum can take five to ten years to grow from seed until it is ready for its first bloom.
Since 2012, the Garden has hosted at least 15 Amorphophallus titanum blooms. This is the first time the Garden has hosted a corpse flower bloom at another site. The Garden operates the Butterfly House, located in Chesterfield.
Garden Horticulturist Emily Colletti. who curates the Garden’s aroid collection, says hosting Calli’s bloom at the Butterfly House will give visitors an opportunity to explore titan arum’s unique pollination process.
“I have always stressed how a flower’s sole purpose is to attract the pollinator,” Colletti said. “Size, shape, color and smell are all about attracting a pollinator. The Butterfly House House, whose mission is to highlight plant/pollinator relationships, is the perfect place to host this odoriferous giant of the plant kingdom."
Jennifer Mullix, director of the Butterfly House says the bug experts are eager to talk about the more unique pollinators this plant relies on.
“We could not be more thrilled to have a corpse flower, at the Butterfly House,” says Mullix. “People don't often think about flies and beetles being pollinators, so Calli gives us a wonderful opportunity to educate our guests on this topic.”
During its bloom, Titan arum emits an intense, foul odor from a tall spike of small flowers, with the scent often lasting just 24 hours. The smell and plant coloration mimic rotting flesh to attract pollinators such as flies.
This will be Calli’s first bloom. A gift from Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Calli is a sibling to “Millie,” who bloomed at the Garden earlier this summer.
Calli is currently located in the Tropical Conservatory of the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Viewing is included with Butterfly House admission 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The Butterfly House is normally closed on Monday but plans to be open for the special occasion on July 29. Admission pricing is available at butterflyhouse.org.
Admission will be free the night of the bloom. The Butterfly House plans to open late on the evening of the bloom and will update its social media pages with more details about when the corpse flower is set to bloom.
Colletti estimates Calli will bloom between July 30 and August 4. The corpse flower usually opens quickly and in the late afternoon with the peak bloom usually occurring after dark.
For complete information visit: www.mobot.org/corpseflower.
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is located at 15050 Faust Pk Dr. inside Faust Park in Chesterfield. Free parking is available on site.
For general information, visit butterflyhouse.org or call (314) 577-0888.
For images of previous corpse flower blooms, please email jeidson@mobot.org.