Big Honkin' Infructescence

Today's post on the The Human Flower Project site talks about the importance of Amorphophallus titanum, with its spectacular smelly inflorescence, in bringing droves of people to quiet conservatories to gape in wonder at this freak of nature. This is the time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when these huge aroids bloom, and there always seem to be several botanical gardens that set up live Webcams to view the spectacle. There's a link on the HFP site to see the one at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This will only last for a few days, so be sure to check it out now.

They also show a photo of Mr. Stinky from Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami, which had a Webcam last year.

This is the infructescence that came from Mr. Stinky.

This is a seed pod collected from the wild in Sumatra. If the amorphophallus at Fairchild was taller than a man, imagine how tall this one must have been!

Much more info on the fascinating and bizarre Aroid Family can be found on the International Aroid Society Web site.