The rare Titan arum flower is also known as the corpse flower because of its unique, “unique” stench. This giant flower blooms in November. The flower can be from 1.8 m – 3 m high. This is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world.

Corpse flowers usually only grow in nature. Found quite abundantly in equatorial tropical forests in Sumatra, Indonesia. It was first scientifically described by Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari in 1878.

At the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, England, this giant flower was planted in 1889 with more than a hundred flower plants planted since then. The first recorded flowerings in the US were at the New York Botanical Garden in 1937 and 1939.

Corpse flowers typically require 5 to 10 years of vegetative growth before blooming for the first time. After initial blooming, some plants may not bloom again for 7 to 10 years while others may bloom every 2 – 3 years. Therefore, this flower is considered very rare.

In 2016, nearly 30,000 people visited the Botany greenhouse in Birge Hall, USA to see the corpse flower bloom. When the corpse flower bears fruit, it resembles a giant column of red-orange fruit with hundreds of small fruits surrounding it like a tomato.

The corpse flower plant is a perennial plant that can live up to 40 years in the wild. The destruction of tropical forests, overexploitation from the wild, and lack of natural pollinators are responsible for the sharp decline in the number of carrion flowers.

Since this flower has become widely known due to its beauty and impressive size, many scientists have come to Indonesia to research and learn about this flower. When the corpse flower blooms, it attracts many tourists to see it.

Notably, the roots and tubers of the scavenger flower plant can be food for humans. The purple tubers look very beautiful and have a unique flavor. Furthermore, this tuber can also be used as a cholesterol control medicine and dietary fiber. This plant’s tubers can grow up to 5 m.

When the corpse flower blooms, it has a temperature that can reach 50 – 60⁰C. From the center of the petal, a little mist will appear and spread to every corner of the flower.

In 2018, the scavenger flower was included in the red book of threatened and endangered plant species. Indonesian government laws are very concerned about preserving this special flower and now this giant flower is also grown in many famous botanical gardens around the world.

In Sumatra, Indonesia, the number of carrion flowers has decreased by about 50%. This happens due to land degradation, illegal logging and sometimes, the titan arum’s habitat is destroyed by local people.