Amorphophallus
Amorphophallus is a large genus of the Arum (or Aroid) family, Araceae.
The genus has 170 species of tropical plants, the most well-known being Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum),
also known as the "corpse plant" or "devil's tongue". It is the largest inflorescence in the world
and it is very stinky when it blooms. Most amorphophallus flowers are stinky, and are usually pollinated by
flies or beetles.
However, a few species have pleasant smells similar to anise (A. albispathus), sweet fruits (A. galbra),
or even chocolate (A. manta). |
 |
Amorphophallus is monoecious. Each plant has both male
and female flowers on its spadix. Female flowers are at the bottom and male flowers higher up. There is also a sterile area that
consists of staminodes (sterile stamen). The female flowers open first for one day. To prevent self-pollination, the male flowers
will open a day or two later when the female flowers are no longer receptive. |
| Spadix: an inflorescence with small flowers
crowded on a thickened, fleshy axis. |
| Spathe: a petal-like sheath surrounding the spadix; a
modified leaf . |
|
| Appendix: a sterile area which consists of staminodes, the sterile flowers. |
| Tuber: a modified stem, a storage organ that is formed
by a thickened rhizome. |
