Titan arum

Pollination

At the base of the spadix, within the protective chamber formed by the spathe, is a band of cream male flowers above a ring of the larger pink female flowers. When the flowers are ready for pollination, the spadix heats up and emits a nauseating smell that attracts the pollinators. This stench is so bad that the Indonesians call the plant ‘the corpse flower’. At one time, it was rumoured that elephants pollinated the flowers, but beetles were generally thought to be responsible. Recent observations suggest that the insects which transfer pollen between the giant inflorescences are sweat bees.

Attracted by the light colouration at its base, the bees enter the spathe chamber, and any pollen that they are already carrying brushes off onto the female flowers. However, once they have entered the chamber, the bees cannot get out again and they remain trapped until the male flowers have shed their pollen.The spathe then withers enough to allow the pollen-covered bees to escape and fly off in search of another stinking inflorescence. As the plants rarely grow in close proximity to one another, the giant inflorescence is thought to be essential for dispersing the scent over large areas to attract pollinators.

From the pollinated female flowers, the fruits develop inside the spathe chamber. Once they are ripe, the spathe withers completely exposing the bright scarlet fruits.These attract the attention of hornbills and other birds that eat them and disperse their seeds.The fruiting body looks rather like a giant version of the familiar lords and ladies (Arum maculatum) which appears in British hedgerows and woods in late summer.

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