Titan Arum leaf

Titan Arum leaf, originally uploaded by andiwolfe.

The biology of the Titan Arum is fascinating. It has an underground storage organ (a corm) that can weigh up to 200 pounds. The corm needs to be at least 35 pounds before the plant has enough stored energy to produce an inflorescence.

This is the leaf of a Titan Arum. The plant produces a single leaf, which resembles a small tree. This leaf is about 12 ft tall and 15 feet across.

After a period of dormancy, the corm sprouts. The initial bud of a leaf and a flower are very similar, so it's a matter of waiting to see what happens each year. This plant may be coming into flower next year, given the size of the corm last fall when it entered dormancy.