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Titan arum flowering at Kew, 1889
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Titan arum flowering at Kew, 1889
Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) flowering at Kew and being viewed by a visiting family, 19th-century artwork. The titan arum, native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is one of the worlds largest flowers. It flowers only rarely, so when it does the pollen is collected so that it may be used to pollinate other titan arums when they flower. The flower smells of rotting meat to attract flies, the natural pollinators of the plant. This plant was established in the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew Gardens) in the 1880s. Artwork from the 4th volume (second period of 1889) of the French popular science weekly La Science Illustree
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9200263
© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1880s 1889 Annual Volume Aroma Child Educational Family French Greenhouse Indonesia Indonesian La Science Illustree London Louis Figuier Magazine Pollination Popular Science Rare Sumatra Sumatran Tropics Victorian Viewing Visiting Visitor Visitors Weekly Horticultural Palm House Royal Botanic Gardens
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This 19th-century artwork captures a rare moment in nature's grandeur - the flowering of a Titan arum at Kew Gardens in 1889. Towering over the visiting family, this colossal flower is one of the largest in the world, native to Sumatra, Indonesia. Its infrequent blossoming makes it an extraordinary sight to behold. The Titan arum emits a pungent odor resembling rotting meat, strategically designed to attract flies - its natural pollinators. This fascinating adaptation ensures successful reproduction for this remarkable plant species. The Royal Botanic Gardens carefully collected its precious pollen during this blooming event, intending to use it for future pollination endeavors. Within the Palm House greenhouse at Kew Gardens, this botanical wonder found its home in the 1880s. Its presence added an exotic touch and provided visitors with an educational experience about tropical flora from distant lands. This monochrome illustration originates from La Science Illustree, a popular science weekly publication from France during that era. Created by Louis Figuier and featured in their fourth volume of 1889, it served as both entertainment and enlightenment for readers across Europe. As we gaze upon this historic image today, we are transported back to a time when scientific discovery intertwined with artistic expression. It reminds us of our fascination with nature's marvels and our continuous quest for knowledge about the biological wonders that surround us.
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