CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s greenhouse has been the host to a special guest for two years and now that guest has a friend.
Dr. Carol Baskauf, plant ecologist and biology professor, is now the proud owner of two titan arum plants, known by their apt nickname, “corpse flower.”
The Department of Biology received its first corpse flower in the summer of 2018 from Vanderbilt University greenhouse manager Jonathan Ertelt. What started as just a shard, known as a corm, sticking a few inches from the dirt is now a tree-like “leaf” that can grow anywhere from 8-15 feet tall.
The real 15 minutes of fame for the corpse flower occurs every 7-10 years. A large spathe unfurls to reveal a stinky spadix erected from the center of the flower. Think of the teacup-like appearance of a tulip but on a much larger scale: as big as 10 feet making it the largest unbranched inflorescence. A fancy word for flowers not connected to a branch.
“The flower is remarkable looking and produces a stinky smell like rotting meat and carrion to attract its pollinators: carrion beetles and flesh flies,” Baskauf said. “The odor tricks them into thinking it is a dead animal carcass.”
Corpse flower could bloom in two or three years
The corpse flower must choose between producing a leaf (it can spend anywhere from 12-18 months in this state) or the rare flower that lasts only 24-36 hours. That means it doesn’t have long to attract pollinators. To increase the reach of its smell, it uses energy to heat itself to more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The smell is produced once it is already blooming,” Baskauf said. “The structure of the growing sprout will eventually reveal if it is going to be a leaf or a flower.”
Baskauf is not sure when the flowers will bloom. There is no way to tell for sure, but she estimates that in another three or four years, the original corm will bloom, and the second should bloom in two or three years.
Even the leaf is impressive
Baskauf said there’s a tradition of naming titan arum plants, but the department has yet to come up with one. “That seems to be a tradition at various other institutions,” she said. “We might do so too someday.”
Baskauf wants to set up a webcam for students to witness the transformation.
“The sprout grows so quickly, it’s very impressive even when it’s ‘just’ a leaf,” she said. “Of course, whenever it produces a flower, that would be great for the public to be able to watch on a web cam.”
Of course, we’d be missing out on that wonderful smell.
To learn more:
The Link LonkSeptember 10, 2020 at 11:19PM
https://clarksvillenow.com/local/corpse-flower-plant-gets-company-at-apsu-could-bloom-in-2-3-years/
Corpse flower plant gets company at APSU, could stink up greenhouse with bloom in 2-3 years - Clarksville Now
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
No comments:
Post a Comment