A BIG BLOSSOM IN BROOKLYN

Credit it to horticultural breakthroughs, I guess; it seems like I've heard about a lot of Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) blooms in American botanical gardens the past few years. Unfortunately, so far they've all been in the east (except for one in California a couple months back that slipped past me). The Titan Arum is the largest member of a genus of some 170 spathe-bearing plant species found across the Paleotropics. The plant itself is an unassuming subterranean tuber native to Sumatra, but its inflorescence, which is pollinated by carrion flies and beetles, can grow to a height of nine feet, and is famous for smelling of rotten flesh. I once found a foot-high Nigerian Amorphophallus species by following its smell, which was potent from fifty feet away. I depicted the purple African plant near the upper center of the painting above.
Coturnix put up a post about the latest American blooming at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, which includes some great photos of this spectacular species and a link to a webcam for the Brooklyn flower. Those of us who can't visit the flower can see it, if not smell it. I'm surprised by the inflorescence's small stature. Though it looks quite mature to me, perhaps it has a bit of growing yet to do. I'll surely be tuning in to that webcam periodically.
Xris at Flatbush Gardener is right in the neighborhood, and he has been blogging furiously about the plant with lots of interesting information resulting. Many of my questions have been answered there.
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illustration: RED RIVER HOGS & GABOON VIPER (1994) acrylic 20" x 30"