World's Largest Flower

An anonymous reader writes "The Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) produces the world's largest flower and is currently in bud at the University Botanic Gardens Bonn (Germany). As of Thursday, 12 a.m. it is set to break the old world record established in 1932. The old record was 267 cm while the new bud is now 273 cm and still growing."

Comments

What kind of nutrients

[Muhammar]

I cannot imagine what kind of nutrients in soil can support such a fast-growing monstrosity. Do they have to feed it live sheep?

Re:Amorphophallus Titanum

[FreeUser]

Going back to our Latin roots, [...] this flower is "scientifically" defined as an unusually huge and shapeless representation of the male penis. This is why men shouldn't name flowers.

Well, it does look like a big honkin' dick, so perhaps it was aptly named after all.

I find it remarkable (and very cool) that there exists a flower that has naturally evolved to be so large and, well, colorful. Methinks a little genetic intermingling with redwoods could lead to a very, very cool, mondo Dogwood-esque blooming tree.

Or perhaps we could try some even more baroque variants, creating new forests of diverse and strangely delightful plants. However, I would avoid anything carnivorous ... the last thing we need is a sequioa sized venus fly trap (though that would keep the tree huggers and loggers alike at bay, but then, too, the spotted owl would likely not fair to well in its branches either).