Plant · GBIF taxon 2871508
Titan arum
Amorphophallus titanumAlso known as Corpse Flower, Corpse Plant, Bunga Bangkai
Titan arum blooms unpredictably every few years, producing a massive spadix wrapped in a deep crimson spathe that releases a powerful stench of decaying flesh. This intense odor, combined with self-generated heat, attracts carrion beetles and flesh flies across vast distances in native Sumatran rainforests. Between flowering events, a single tree-sized leaf emerges from a heavy underground corm to gather solar energy.
TropicalRare
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
Not available
ThreatsDeforestation, habitat loss, illegal collection
HabitatsTropical Rainforests
Life span30 to 40 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAlismatales
- FamilyAraceae
- GenusAmorphophallus
- SpeciesAmorphophallus titanum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Plant tissue contains calcium oxalate crystals; avoid touching plant sap and do not ingest.
- Why it is dangerous
- Sap contains sharp calcium oxalate raphides that irritate skin and cause severe burning if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Distinguished by its massive tree-like leaf, giant tuber, or tall foul-smelling flower structure.
- What to do
- Do not touch raw sap or cut tissue, and observe blooms from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a single tree-like leaf up to six meters tall or a towering reddish-purple spathe.
- Support conservation
- Observe cultivated specimens in botanic gardens and avoid disturbing wild Sumatran habitats.
Responsible observation
- Botanical Displays: Visit public greenhouses during bloom alerts to experience the brief two-day flowering.
- Olfactory Awareness: Prepare for a strong odor during the first night of bloom when scent emission peaks.
- Garden Etiquette: Stay behind protective railings to safeguard fragile spathes and delicate leaf structures.
Pollination Partner LukeTriton / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Ichan dgmc / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Family Member
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