Philosophy
"World's smelliest and largest flower blooms in Brazil"
December 27th, 2012
physics.org
Also known as the "corpse flower" because of a smell likened to rotting flesh, it began blooming on Christmas Day and is already beginning to close, botanist Patricia Oliveira told AFP. The flower "has a lifespan of 72 hours, during which its stink and meat-coloration attract pollinators: carrion flies and beetles," added Oliveira, who works at the Inhotim garden, about 445 kilometers (275 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, housing the massive flower. Titan arum, also known by its scientific name, "Amorphophallus titanum," which means misshapen giant penis, is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra. It rarely flowers, is incredibly difficult to cultivate and takes six years to grow. Thursday, this Brazilian specimen reached 167 centimeters (5 feet 3 inches) in height, but the species can grow up to over three meters (10 feet) tall. This "is the second time it bloomed. The first time was in December 2010," Oliveira said. When it flowers, the bloom has the same temperature as that of the human body, which helps spread its pungent smell. The species was first described in 1878 by Italian natural scientist Odoardo Beccari. Ten years later, it bloomed in a London botanical garden and its next flowering occurred in 1926.
Amorphophallus titanum [Wikipedia]
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Philosophy
"Corpse Flower" blooms
A titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), also known as "corpse flower" or "corpse plant" due to its odor, is displayed at the Inhotim Art Institute and Botanical Garden in Belo Horizonte, in the Brazilian southern state of Minas Gerais, on December 26, 2012. Hundreds of visitors are flocking daily to the garden to watch the rare blooming of the world's smelliest and largest tropical flower.
"World's smelliest and largest flower blooms in Brazil"
December 27th, 2012
physics.org
Also known as the "corpse flower" because of a smell likened to rotting flesh, it began blooming on Christmas Day and is already beginning to close, botanist Patricia Oliveira told AFP. The flower "has a lifespan of 72 hours, during which its stink and meat-coloration attract pollinators: carrion flies and beetles," added Oliveira, who works at the Inhotim garden, about 445 kilometers (275 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, housing the massive flower. Titan arum, also known by its scientific name, "Amorphophallus titanum," which means misshapen giant penis, is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra. It rarely flowers, is incredibly difficult to cultivate and takes six years to grow. Thursday, this Brazilian specimen reached 167 centimeters (5 feet 3 inches) in height, but the species can grow up to over three meters (10 feet) tall. This "is the second time it bloomed. The first time was in December 2010," Oliveira said. When it flowers, the bloom has the same temperature as that of the human body, which helps spread its pungent smell. The species was first described in 1878 by Italian natural scientist Odoardo Beccari. Ten years later, it bloomed in a London botanical garden and its next flowering occurred in 1926.
Amorphophallus titanum [Wikipedia]
- Stink Bugs And Facebook
FBC writes, I plant a decent sized garden. I grow tomatoes, several types of squash, zucchini, pumpkins, and various peppers. I?m thinking of trying corn this coming year too. The last couple of years have been rough. Between the blight and various pests...
- Chrysanthemums...a Significant Historical Plant...and Smells Nice Too
They are my favorite flowering plant. A crisp Fall breeze clears the nose and then followed by a whiff the flowering Chrysanthemum. In 1790, chrysanthemums were introduced into England from China. These hardy plants have since been found native in Japan,...
- Congratulations...ms. De Oliveira
Congratulations to Ms. de Oliveria on her first co-authored paper "Electron-phonon bound states and impurity band formation in quantum wells" by Bruna P. W. de Oliveira and Stephan Haas. Ms. de Oliveira is a graduate student from Brazil working on her...
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"Rare Microphotographs Resurface After 150 Years" by Alexis Madrigal November 19th, 2008 Wired.com Drawing was a terribly important part of science until the mid-19th century. Without photography, scientists, particularly in the life sciences, had to...
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