One of the most popular flowers in the
gardens is the “The Corpse Flower”
(scientifically known as Amorphophallus
Titanum). The reason for the name is
because they are known for the foul
stench they emit when in bloom. What do
they smell like? Depends on whom you ask:
rotting flesh, sweaty gym socks, stinky cheese. When in bloom, this
is a rare sight. Corpse plants are unpredictable and can bloom every
3 to 9 years. And when they do, their actual flowering deep red bloom
usually only lasts 24-36 hours.
Although corpse flowers usually bloom every three to nine years,
the two at Selby have been pretty prolific. Why? It’s a mystery, says
Selby’s director of horticulture, Mike McLaughlin. “They’re
erratic.”The flower is becoming increasingly rare in its native Sumatra
due to deforestation. Gardeners at Selby will cross-pollinate the plants
in the hopes of breeding more little corpse flowers. They tried in 2014
but it didn’t work out.
Selby Gardens Past & Present
Since the Gardens originally opened to the
public, the property has more than doubled
in size from seven to nearly 15 acres. The
historic Payne Mansion on adjoining property
was purchased in 1973 and now houses the
Gardens’ Museum. Selby Gardens maintains
a plant collection representing specimens
collected from New World Tropic locations
during research expeditions and acquisitions
from international institutions. The collection
numbers more than 20,000 greenhouse
plants, plus thousands more in the outdoor
gardens.
Eight greenhouses include the stunning
Tropical Conservatory – the only greenhouse
that is open to the public where
unusual flora can be seen year-round. The
Botany Department provides headquarters
for the Bromeliad, Gesneriad, and Orchid
Research Centers and Selby Gardens’
Herbarium, Spirit Collection and Molecular
Laboratory. The Ann Goldstein Children’s
Rainforest Garden, opened in November
2013, features interactive stations that allow
children and families to explore rainforest
plants and habitats. Marie Selby Botanical
Gardens has, in short, become a respected
center for research and
education, as well as a famous
showplace that delights more
than 130,000 visitors each year.
Fun Facts About
the Corpse Flower
• It’s the world’s tallest flower and can reach
over 10 feet in height.
• Selby Gardens’ Seymour was named after
the carnivorous plant in the 1986 movie
“Little Shop of Horrors.”
• Corpse plants are actually hermaphrodites;
they contain both male and female
structures.
• It is native to the steamy island of Sumatra
off the coast of Indonesia.
Have you met the
“Corpse Flower”?
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