The Largest Flower in the World 'Titan Arum' Blooms at Cibodas Botanical Garden, Indonesia

A Titan Arum flower (Amorphophallus titanium), or often referred as the Corpse Flower by the locals, is in full bloomat the Cibodas Botanical Gardens, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), located in Cimacan Village, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia.

Quoted from Antara News, Marga Anggrianto, the general manager of the botanical garden management company said "One of the Corpse Flower collections is in perfect bloom. This is a rare moment where Corpse Flower can only bloom every two to three years, even longer."

The Corpse Flower started to show its inflorescence sign since the beginning of August 2021. This is the third time the particular flower has bloomed since 2000.

The corpse flower with collection number 76i is in full bloom on Wednesday (13/10/2021) at 00.31 Western Indonesia Time. The initiation of the opening of the petals could be seen since Tuesday (12/10/2021) at 15.00 Western Indonesia Time. 

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Titan Arum "The Corpse Flower" in full bloom in Cibodas Botanical Garden.

The results of the latest measurements show that the inflorescence reached 289 centimeters (cm), a circumference of 145.5 cm, and the diameter of the petals (spatha) at the full bloom position of 128 cm.

When female flowers ripen, which usually occurs at night, it gives off a foul, carrion-like odor and the scent can be smelled from several meters. It invites pollinators, such as beetles and flies, to come. 

Amorphophallus titanium (Becc.) Becc is classified as a rare plant based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its existence in Indonesia is protected by Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999.  

Titan Arum has the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world and belongs to the Araceae family (taro). Corpse Flowers are native to Indonesia, endemic to Sumatra.

To date, Cibodas Botanical Gardens has had 13 specimens, consisting of one specimen which is the parent that was collected in the form of tubers, and 12 specimens which were propagated from seeds and planted in 2003. 

In regards to the development of Corpse Flower in Cibodas Botanical Garden, there is one specimen in the generative phase, four specimens in the vegetative phase, and eight specimens in the dormant phase. One specimen in the generative phase is the one in full bloom.

Cibodas Botanical Garden is open every day from 08.00 - 16.00 with fee Rp15,500 on weekdays and Rp25.500 on weekends. Visitors are required to show a vaccine certificate or through the Peduli Lindungi application as part of the trial opening of tourist destinations.