The voodoo lily's stench exists to attract insects that are normally attracted to dead animals. The smelly plant releases the exact same compounds that produce the distinct smell of a rotting corpse, which in turn attracts flies and carrion beetles.
Voodoo lilies emit an odor comparable to the smell of rotten meat. However, this odor only lasts for a few days while the plant is in bloom.
When fully bloomed, the voodoo lily produces a rotten flesh odor to attract carrion flies and midges that are its natural pollinators. Once the flower has been pollinated, the fowl odor will disappear.
The voodoo lily plant produces a scent that has often been described as being similar to decaying meat or cow dung, according to the Pacific Bulb Society. It does this using thermogenics, meaning the flower actually heats up to emit the scent.
The voodoo lily flower is shaped like a calla lily. As it is a relative of the prized corpse flower, it does have an odor when it blooms. However, the smell isn't quite as strong and dissipates in a couple of hours after it first blooms.
Rafflesia's gigantic petals emit a putrid scent to attract pollinators and prey.
Asiatic lilies do not have a fragrance, and their flowers tend to be smaller than some other types of lilies. They come in many different colors, including shades of orange, red, yellow, and creamy white.
Yes, voodoo lilies are poisonous! So keep the bulb, foliage, and flowers out of reach of children and pets at all times.
Amorphophallus, commonly called Voodoo Lily, are exotic plants in the aroid family, famous for their huge flowers whose odor leaves no doubt as to why they are also called Corpse Flowers.
Dubbed the 'corpse flower', Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) stinks of rotting flesh when in bloom.
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, boasts a powerful stink, and blooms for just 2-3 days once every year or two.
They spread by making corms that you can plant or allow to grow on their own to have more lilies. The oddest thing happens in early spring before the leaves sprout. Flowers grow right on top of the ground and are very bizarre. They grow, as do all arums, into a large fleshy looking bract, in which is a central spadix.
Their tubers (which can grow to weigh over 50 pounds) are processed into a tasteless flour or stiff jelly; a vegan substitute for gelatin. In Japan, flour from these tubers is processed to make Shirataki noodles as well as into fruit snacks. The voodoo lily is widely known for its large, foul-smelling flower spike.
Even in tropical climates voodoo lily requires a dry, dormant rest period every year. The leaf only lasts for one growing season and will naturally senesce in late summer or fall.
History of the Corpse Flower
The Corpse Flower or Titan Arum is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, Indonesia where it grows on limestone hills at low elevations, in forest openings where there is enough light and space to produce its massive leaf and inflorescence or flower-bearing structure.
The titan arum is a flowering plant, native to Indonesia's island of Sumatra. The plant's full bloom only once every seven to ten years. This rare event only lasts 24 to 36 hours.
Yep! The root of the Amorphophallus konjac corpse lily is edible. And, it has been eaten for centuries in Asia. Often it is served sliced in a jelly form.
The leaf grows up to 100 cm long while the corm grows up to 30 cm in diameter. The plant is widely cultivated in Japan and China as food source. The corm is edible but contains calcium oxalate that makes it toxic if consumed raw, so it must be cooked thoroughly or fully dried.
Voodoo lilies are best known for their unique smell - that of rotting meat. Amorphophallus species are commonly pollinated by beetles and flies, and so to attract their pollinators the flowers create a very pungent odor, one that can really overwhelm the greenhouse.
While their flowers are lovely to see and smell, lilies pose a significant safety threat for your cat. Lilies in the “true lily” and “daylily” families are very dangerous for cats. The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase.
Why is my Voodoo lily leaves turning yellow? If it is still summer and warm and you notice the leaves turning yellow, it may be due to overwatering. But when winter arrives and you will see the leaves dying off and turning yellow to brown shade, that's totally normal.
While some lilies are completely fine to grow inside the home, some varieties can be really toxic, especially to animals such as cats. Every part of the lily plant is poisonous for cats and can cause vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite in them.
Buy lilies without pollen, or, for lilies with stamens, snip off their stamens or spray them with hairspray. In the unlikely event of pollen finding its way to your clothing, sofa or floor covering, no need for panic!
Nodding Chocolate Lily, Dichopogon strictus) gets its name from its chocolate scented flowers. Its bush food value, however, comes mainly from its juicy tubers, which can be eaten raw or cooked.