big-will 7 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Has anyone ever smelt this plant (titan arum)? It is supposed to smell like "rotting flesh, old socks, Camembert cheese or dirty nappies." Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I can smell it from here. That's one big, er, erect, plant. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 "rotting flesh, old socks, Camembert cheese or dirty nappies" all smell quite different from each other. Somebody needs to go back and smell the thing again. rach, I just noticed that your avatar is 'scratch and sniff'. It smells good! Link to post Share on other sites
bong 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I think Camembert cheese smells quite nice. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by rach: I can smell it from here. That's one big, er, erect, plant. Is that better for you than a shakuhachi Rach? Link to post Share on other sites
Dims 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 The word on the street from my fellow botantists is that it smells like rotting eggs or flesh, which makes sense because I think it is polinated by flies and/or carrion beetles. Although I am not sure where these people have smelt rotting flesh before. Makes my wonder about some of my friends....... This biggun' is called Amorphophallus titanum and only flowers a couple of times in 40 years. So whoever named it had a sense of humour and was also impressed with its........size Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I wonder how it compares with the aroma of durians? That girly who's playing with its lace doesn't seem too put off by the smell of rotting flesh... Link to post Share on other sites
maoriboy 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Hey isnt that Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors????? Link to post Share on other sites
white-void 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Looks like a relative of the naughty Triffid. Link to post Share on other sites
farquah 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Think I saw one of them in the tropical dome at the Eden Project back home. If anyone is in England I really reccomend the Eden Project for a visit, it`s awsome, really impressive. I visited about three years ago and was pretty impressed so by now it should be flourishing and pretty well established I would expect. Link to post Share on other sites
guzzlers-baps 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 The place that was used for the Bond baddie place in Die Another Day right? I'd love to watch the Triffids again, I thought that was ace when I was little. Link to post Share on other sites
farquah 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 This place! Didn`t know it was in Bond but that makes it cooler!! Link to post Share on other sites
guzzlers-baps 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Yes it was used as the bonds baddie place in the last bond movie. Your avatar has gone missing farquah Link to post Share on other sites
guzzlers-baps 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 http://www.jamesbond.com/bond20/newsflash/newsflash_16.php No triffis there though. Link to post Share on other sites
farquah 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Just found this on Eden Project web site so it is there!!!! The biggest flower in the world is blooming here and causing the most incredible stink! Known as a Titan arum, the extremely rare botanical freak has been installed in a giant pot within the lush depths of our Humid Tropics Biome. Today the plant stands at a mighty 222 cms (just over 7ft 4in). Visitors have been flocking to see this wonder of the plant world but were warned that when as it goes into full flower it would give off a sickening odour. The Titan originates from the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is also known as the corpse flower because of its putrid stench. It is a distant cousin of the lilies known as lords and ladies found in British hedgerows. Tim Grigg, the gardener who has lovingly nurtured Eden’s Titan from a small tuber, said: “It is famous for its sheer size, shape and revolting smell. This has been likened to dead rats, decaying fish and burnt sugar.” He added: “It has taken us by surprise because we didn’t expect it to flower this year. It’s the craziest, most spectacular plant. Children, gardeners - anyone remotely interested in nature - will be fascinated by it. It's a monster but a quite beautiful one.” The plant is measured daily and notes are kept on its condition so Eden can share data with botanists all over the world. The plant - Latin name Amorphophallus titanum - is distinguished by its yellowy, fleshy spike known as a spadix. This is wrapped in a single cream leaf which, when opened, reveals a deep crimson inside. When it is ready to attract pollinators, the spike heats up and gives off the smell which revolts humans but is very alluring to insects. It then develops a fruit which attracts birds. Don Murray, Eden’s Humid Tropics Curator, said: “For many people this will be the chance of a lifetime to see one of the true wonders of nature." Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 I can't imagine what anyone would have against Camembert cheese, the wonder that it is. Link to post Share on other sites
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