A smaller Amorphophallus konjac is in bud at the U of M as well. My largest plant is blooming size but aborted its first flower. I've met several people who grow them outside here, and should really try it since it produces so many offsets you end up throwing them out anyways.
Sean Z
Zone 6a
SE Michigan
On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 9:45 AM, Dennis Kramb
<d*@badbear.com> wrote:
I occasionally visit a local university's conservatory and finally caught this irid in bloom. It was stinky! The flower shape & color makes me think of an octopus.
There was also a medium sized Amorphophallus 'Rivieri' in bloom. (I say medium sized, it was nearly as tall as I am.) But that was 100x more pungent than the Ferraria! I approached it carefully -- but made sure to get a good whiff of it right up close. (I got close enough to see it was covered in aphids.)
Several years ago at this conservatory I encountered my first Stapelia in bloom. I had grown Stapelias 20 years ago but never got them to bloom. I was excited! It was such a tiny flower I got up close to get a good sniff. I nearly passed out! That's not an exaggeration either. It was overwhelming. I saw stars.
This conservatory, of course, grows tons of pleasant smelling plants. But those aren't nearly as fun to talk about. :-)
Oh, on my way out I brushed passed a giant Agave which impaled my leg with it's leaf-tip spine. Baaaaad idea putting one of those right along the main exit.
Dennis in Cincinnati
