When a Green Thumb Isn’t a Good Thing
This is a titan arum or Amorphophallus titanum, popularly known as Devil’s Tongue. It very rarely blooms even in the wild, which is a good thing unless you’re a Botanic Garden. Then it’s a good thing only because thousands of people will line up and pay money to see this thing in flower. Why? Well, it is very pretty and yes, it is extremely rare for one in captivity to come into bloom. But for most people the real fascination comes from the way this lily smells. You see, its other common name is corpse plant. That’s right: for sixteen hours it smells like a dead body.
Why did I buy this plant? Because its leaves are lovely and it NEVER blooms, right?
Wrong.
Labels: Amorphophallus titanum, Corpse Pland, Devil's Tongue, titan arum
81 Comments:
You're going to leave your readers hanging without an answer? I give up. So why did you buy it, if not for its pretty leaves and tendency not to flower?
If that's your plant in the picture, blooming despite the odds, did the smell attract any interesting animals or bugs?
Ah well. Just hope your neighbors don't call the cops complaining of the odor and wondering what's going on over at your place....
And your getting it to bloom (despite your thinking it wouldn't) proves you really do have a the greenest of green thumbs, eh?
How funny. I'd never have to worry about it. All my plants end up as corpses anyway.
But hey, at least it's only for 15 hours, and it's really quite a testament to your gardening skills. :)
Yes, Shauna, that is my plant in the picture, with not one but TWO blooms. It smells like a dead body so that it can attract cadaver flies, its pollinator of choice.
And I guess I wasn't clear--I bought it because of the pretty leaves and because I didn't expect it to bloom.
Speaking as a horror writer, that's just...well...cool!
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Good job!
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I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
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Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Please write anything else!
Magnific!
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
C++ should have been called B
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640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates 81
Save the whales, collect the whole set
Energizer Bunny Arrested! Charged with battery.
Calvin, we will not have an anatomically correct snowman!
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
Please write anything else!
Energizer Bunny Arrested! Charged with battery.
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
Wonderful blog.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
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actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
Nice Article.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
C++ should have been called B
Beam me aboard, Scotty..... Sure. Will a 2x10 do?
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Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Thanks to author.
If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic.
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Energizer Bunny Arrested! Charged with battery.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Clap on! , Clap off! clap@#&$NO CARRIER
When there's a will, I want to be in it.
If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic.
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