News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-09-19
A BOTANICAL PHENOMENON
Description of a Wonderful Flower
Found in Western Sumatra.

The Boston Herald describes an in er-
esting plant known as the Amorphophol-
tUs tttdnum, which was discovered in 1878
by DR.. Beccari, in Western Sumatra
and Seeding of which has been on ex-
hlbltlon in the Kew Gardens, London.
1t is said to be something of botanical
phenomenon in size as in other fea ures.
The seeds were germinated i'll Italy and
She plant now on exhibition has been
several years developing. Year after
year the gigantic tuber has demanded a
larger pot, and annually it has produced
an enormous Leaf, at first resembling u
trunk, but afterward parting into three
branches ten feet above the tuber,
which developed into veins or ribs of
the leaf nearly !, ur yards in length, and
made one immense leaf forty five feet
in circumference. In March last, the
tuber was reported to weigh fifty-seven
pounds, and measu: ed four feet eight
inches in circumference. In May last
no signs of tie usual leaf development
were given, but what proved to be the
flower had begun to push its way to-
wards development Its progre at
first was at the rate of an inch day;
then two inches day were added to its
stature, until, in June, its upward prog
ress was a most visible. Excitement
among the habitutes of Kew Gardens,
an scientigc men at large, was intense.
But though many were watching for the
unfolding of this great flower, its singu-
larly fug tive character was destined to
disappoint even some of the yigi ant
who happened not to be present during
the few hours OF its unfolding. On the
last Friday in June last the flower be-
gan to unfold, to spread its great toothed
rim, and to exhibit the wonderful ma
room color of its lining. 1t was ma estic
in its beauty-there was no doubt of
that-and by o'clock p. m. of the same
day the unfolding process was finished
and the Titan OF its race stood in its
completeness. But, oh the horror of
its smell, which filed the spacious
greenhouse to overflowing and compelled
even the enthusiasts to flee hastily with
handkerchief to nose-a stink such as all
the condemned fish of great city
would hesitate to emit. This vile odor
is common to all the aroid family, to
which this plant belongs, its purpose
being jointly for protection and to in
duce fertilization. In this especial case
every fly and insect gathered about the
gigantic spadix, instantly fertilizing the
tiny blooms which clothed it to its sum-
NIT
This amorphophallus belongs to the
arum family, many members of which
are common among our wild flowers,
and familiar to us all But wide gulf
separates it from its modest congeners
of the temperate zone. The spathe or
encircling frill from which rises the
spadix, measured four feet across and
was three feet deep. The interior of
this spathe held for those who pinched
their noses, and had the courage to look
into its depths, q wonderful show of color
maroon purple, tinged with violet, vel
vet-like sheen, indescribably beautiful.
This lining has q superb effect pouring
over the edges, greenish white, bodily
toothed and crumpled The spaldix
measured five feet from it's blse, which
ton inches in diameter, and prndu-
Hly narrowed to blunt point, green at
nrstS but -as II grew oldcr turning to
drTD. The stature OF tue entire Hover
was six feet nine inches, aud in future
years, whenever the tuber chooses to
again develop another bloom, these Won
drous dimensions viii no doubt be ex-
caa1a1