Two giant, rare corpse flowers bloom in Chicago

CHICAGO - It is unusual enough to see one of nature's biggest, rarest—not to mention smelliest—flowers bloom. But it is extraordinary to see two bloom at once.

That is why two seven-foot-tall corpse flowers at the Chicago Botanic Garden have attracted thousands of visitors this week, despite the smell of rotting flesh that the flowers emit to attract pollinating beetles and flies.

 

Have you seen the #CBGTitanTwins lately? Both twins like hot, humid weather-- the climate of their native rainforests in Sumatra, Indonesia. Both are descended from the same parent plants as #CBGSprout; grown from seed of Trudy and Titania at @ucberkeleyofficial. Both have big bulbs, or corms, that weigh 113 pounds. But, as siblings do, they have their differences. Which do you think will bloom first? Are you more #TeamJava or #TeamSumatra? Let us know. #TitanArum #corpseflower #flowersofinstagram #chicagobotanicgarden

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May 30, 2017 at 7:20am PDT

 

Good morning, #TitanArum fans! Java is open and the Chicago Botanic Garden will open at 7 a.m. See details at link in profile. #corpseflower #CBGTitanTwins #chicagobotanicgarden #amorphophallustitanum #flowersofinstagram

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May 31, 2017 at 3:34am PDT

 

As if one wasn't enough, now there's TWO! Sumatra, the second of out titan arum twins, opened in the early hours of the morning and is very smelly. Want to see some science in action? We'll be pollinating Sumatra sometime today. View the live stream at link in profile. #cbgtitantwins #titanarum #corpseflower #chicagobotanicgarden #flowersofinstagram #pollination #thursdaymotivation #thursdaythoughts #science

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Jun 1, 2017 at 5:51am PDT

The rare flowers, officially called titan arum, are naturally occurring in just one place on Earth—the Indonesian island of Sumatra. They are threatened by deforestation, and botanic gardens around the world are cultivating and preserving them.

It takes up to 10 years for one plant to flower, and then it does so for about one day.

"Having twin corpse flowers both bloom at the same time is very rare," said Greg Mueller, chief scientist at the botanic garden.

The Chicago Botanic Garden checked with its counterparts around the world and found only a handful of times that such an event has happened, and it has never before occurred in North America.

"This is one of these plants that are just so exciting," Mueller said.

 

Greg Mueller explains how Java started opening (and stinking) last night and we anticipate Sumatra perhaps also opening tonight or tomorrow. #TitanArum #corpseflower #CBGTitanTwins #chicagobotanicgarden #pollination #stinkyflower #flowersofinstagram #titantwins #twintitans #teamjava #TeamSumatra

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May 31, 2017 at 5:56am PDT

The garden will continue to display the plants until June 8, and expects to draw many more thousands of enthusiasts come to observe the huge structures, even though the flowers have already closed back up, and are beginning to wilt.

But even more exciting for scientists, they have managed to pluck away precious seeds to send to other gardens. — Agence France-Presse