Page 9 - Tropical glasshouses

9 Titan arum Amorphophallus titanum
This species has been in the Hortus’ possession since 1863. As we have a number of mature specimens we can sometimes display a owering plant several years in a row, but sometimes a year will go by without
a single in orescence. When these plants ower the news almost always hits the press: a titan arum has the largest non-subdivided in orescence of all known owers, some- times more than 3 metres (10 feet) in length. The pungent smell attracts pollinators such as scavenger beetles and blow ies. When the ower dies down, a single leaf is formed directly from the tuber. The soft leafstalk looks like hardwood, complete with lichen, to deter plant eaters.
10 antplantHydnophytumsp. A number of tropical ferns, palms, arums, bromeliads, orchids and other species of plants provide accommo- dation for ants. The ants have a safe nest, and they bring their droppings, leftover food and remains of dead fellow ants to special chambers and
to the soil around the plant, providing nutritional matter. The ants also defend the plant against attackers.
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