Corpse Flower blooms at the Huntington Library
When I heard about the Corpse Flower, the latest attraction at the Huntington Library in California, it sounded like another crazy mashup -- like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or "Android Karenina." Just the sort of thing Nancy would love to plant in the backyard.
Actually Amorphophallus titanum is a gigantic plant native to the Sumatran rain forest; it can reach more than 6 feet in height when it blooms, opening to a diameter of 3–4 feet, according to the Huntington. The freaky plant already has grown nearly two feet since May 20, and the bloom is fast approaching. (Should we be worried that California's climate now resembles that of the Sumatran rain forest? Al Gore, where are you?)
But Titan Arum is best known for a horrible odor, which has led to the Corpse Flower handle.
The Huntington itself is best known for a remarkable collection of art and books. Among the latter are the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," a copy of the Gutenberg Bible on vellum, and a first folio edition of William Shakespeare’s collected plays.
Baltimore Sun photo of Titan Arum at the U.S. Botanic Garden in 2003
Comments
Dave, as we learned in yesterday's news, Al Gore has other things on his mind right now.
Posted by: Dahlink | June 2, 2010 6:52 AM
Dahlink, who ever thought that Hillary abnd Bill would outlast the Gores?
p.s. We'll get "Role Models" out to you asap.
Posted by: Dave | June 2, 2010 10:04 AM
If I could remember the name of the mystery I read that has a corpse flower as sort of (in a contrived way) part of the plot, I would announce it right now!
Posted by: Eve | June 2, 2010 11:59 AM
Eve,
Maybe "The Big Dirt Nap" by Rosemary Harris? Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Dirt-Nap-Business-Mysteries/dp/0312369689
Posted by: Gail Farrelly | June 2, 2010 9:03 PM
Gail! That's it! A reasonable read. Not too strenuous.
(The Baltimore County Library site, BTW, does not offer this series, when the search is "garden mystery". The database draws a blank at "corpse flower"!
Posted by: Eve | June 4, 2010 12:01 PM
Nancy & Dave--my eagerly awaited copy of "Role Models" came with today's mail--PLUS my very own Read Street bookmark and fridge magnet! My cup runneth over. Many thanks!
Posted by: Dahlink | June 4, 2010 5:02 PM