Corpse flower blooms at Bogor Botanical Gardens

JABODETABEK - JAKARTA. Researchers from the Plant Conservation Center (PKT) of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Botanical Gardens in Bogor, West Java, have reportedly grown a titan arum flower (Amorphophallus titanium), also known as the corpse flower, in a pot.

Located at Araceae Park in Bogor Botanical Gardens, the flower is predicted to bloom between Nov. 1 and Nov. 3.

According to Antara news agency, there is no significant difference between planting the flower in soil on the ground or in a pot. However, it is important to pay attention to the size of the pot as it has to be larger than the tuber. The pot also has to be mixed with soil and compost later on.

Technically, after the flower blooms, its tuber will have to be relocated out of the pot. “The uniqueness of this corpse flower compared to other similar plants is that it has the biggest flower,” said Yuzammi, one of the researchers.

Bogor Botanical Gardens has collected 11 varieties of Amorphophallus. The corpse flower is said to be part of the Araceae family, which is able to grow in almost all conditions in Indonesia. “As long as the soil isn’t too solid and it has good porosity,” Yuzammi added.

Amorphophallus titanium can particularly be found in the forests of Sumatra, especially between Aceh and Lampung.

The potted corpse flower itself is the result of a collaboration between PKT and Liwa Botanical Gardens in Lampung.