Printed in 2012 / Photographed by Jin Murata in July 2010 / Ink-jet print / Cultivated by the Botanical Gardens, Faculty of Science, the University of Tokyo / Original size: 1.5m / UMUT

Rare species endemic to Sumatra, Indonesia. It blossomed for the first time in Japan at the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens in 1991 and this specimen, photographed in 2010, is only the sixth successful blooming of the species in Japan. When the large spathe opens, a strong smell like that of rotting meat comes from the spadix, attracting pollinator insects. The small male and female flowers gather at the base of the spadix covered by the spathe. The height of the spadix can reach 3.3m and the diameter of the spathe can reach 1.3m. The name Titan signifies “giant,” and the Japanese name Shokudaiookonnyaku means candlestick giant arum, because of the shape of the flower.

IMTB_UT0000597