User:Masonp21

Mason Pollock

Biol 422

15 May 2018

Amorphophallus Titanum

           The Amorphophallus Titanum or more commonly known as the corpse flower is a beautiful plant with one of the world’s largest flowers. It is most commonly found in the wild in different tropical regions in Asia according to Live Science journal. The thing that makes the corpse flower so unique other than the distinct size of it’s flower, is the smell that it emits. It smells like rotting flesh, hence the name the corpse flower. Botanists believe that the smell can ward off other predators from eating it because of it being so unpleasant but it has also shown to help with pollination. Insects and other pollinators are attracted to the terrible smell and land on the plant and then carry pollen to other plants.

           The plant is able to create this odor through the releasing of several different molecules that combine to create this smell. Each molecule that is a part of this process smells foul to humans, but insects and other pollinators are attracted to it because of their tendency to lay eggs in things of the sort. The molecules involved in this stench are dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide, trimethylamine, isovaleric acid, benzyl alcohol, phenol, and indole according to floriculturist Tim Pollak (Chicago Botanic Garden). In addition to releasing these molecules, the plant is also able to raise its temperature. What is unknown about the corpse flower, however, is how exactly it goes about doing this. Gregory Pongetti, the curator for the Fullerton Arboretum said that the blossoming period for the corpse flower when it’s temperature is raised is only about a day, after years of preparing to bloom. This makes running experiments and tests very difficult for the corpse flower. We are able to examine the molecules released because of our ability to take samples of the air surrounding the plant.

           It is interesting to see what exactly plants can do to ensure their reproduction success is the highest rate possible. It is counter intuitive to think that something that smells so bad is that way because it is better for reproduction and this just reminds us that plants are so different themselves and are truly complex in their design.

References

“About That Smell...” My Chicago Botanic Garden, 24 Aug. 2015, my.chicagobotanic.org/horticulture/behind-the-scenes/spike-update-about-that-smell/.

Bradford, Alina. “Corpse Flower: Facts About the Smelly Plant.” LiveScience, 30 May 2017, www.livescience.com/51947-corpse-flower-facts-about-the-smelly-plant.html.

Haddix, Matthew Haddix Matthew. “Corpse Flower Subject of Temperature Research.” Daily Titan, 25 Mar. 2015, dailytitan.com/2015/03/corpse-flower-subject-of-temperature-research/.