The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-21
a FLORAL GIANT.
A Miracle in Beauty and Terror in
Perfume.
From the Washington Star.

FROM Ute HuMlH0tOn STAR
In 1878 u traveller in Western Sumatra,
DR.. Beccari, wrote home that he had dis
covered plant of extraordinary character.
but his letter announcing this botanical
phenomenon, the amorphophallus titanum,
was very modest one, taking into con-
sideration the fact that he had discovered a
veritable wonder of the vegetable kingdom
the largest and most distinctly
unique flower in the world, one Of which
opened at Kew gardens, London, England
in the latter part Of last June Dr.. Beccari
in his letter stated that he had found the
gigantic tuber and dug it up; that it was 5
feet IN Giro inference, and two men could
hardly carry tin fact they dropped it -,
| and the tuber was broken. DR.. Becca
promised to send home some tubers in per-
| feet condition, but it does not appear that
| he accomplished this But seeds were SCI t
and they arrived safely, shaped like an
olive, Ia inches long and bright red in
| color.
These seeds were terminated in Italy, and
a Seeding presented to Kew gardens. and it
is this Seeding which has finally developed
the extraordinary blossom figured. 1t hes
| developed from a Seeding year by year. the
gigantic tuber demanding a larger pot from
time to time, and annually pr ducing its
titanic leaf, IS feet in circumference. This
u Is,
! as 1t grew it's three branches, as thick as a
mans thigh, parted from it 10 feet above
the tuber, and proved TO be veins or ribs
| OF the leaf nearly four yards ia length
| Startling as the leaf development had
| been, greater wonders were in re-
serve for the savants and the public.
In March last the tuber was re-
ported to weigh 81 pounds and measured
| 4 feet eight inches in circumference In
May last 10 signs of the usual leaf devel-
| opment were givon, but what proved to be
the flower had begun to push its way
toward development Its progress at first
was at the rate of an inch a day; then two
| inches day were added to its stature, until
in June its upward progress was almost
| visible. Excitement among the habitues
| of Kew garden and scientific men at large
was int Use. Fancy" as an English paper
puts it, "a bud as tall and roomy as one of
these machines which open at Christmas
| time at Drury Lane disclosing a Young
| woman in an attitude"
| Blu, though N ny were watching for the
unfolding of this great flower, its singularly
| fugitive character was destined to disap-
| point even some OF the vigllants who hap
| pened not TO DO present during the few
| lou OF its unfolding. On the last Friday
in June last the flower began to unfold, to
spread its great toothed-rim and to exhibit
| the wonderful maroon color of its lining
lt was majestic in its beauty-there was no
| doubt of that-and by s O'Clock o. M. of
the same DAY the unfolding process was fin
ished and the Titan of its race stood in its
completeness. But, oh, the horror of its
| smell, which filed the spacious green
house to owe flowing and compelled
even. the enthusiasts TO flee
hastily with handkerchief to nose-a stink
| such as all the condemned fish of a 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
Tor protection aud to inauCe fertilization.
In this especial case every fly and insect
gathered about in the gigantic spadix, in
stantly fertllZing the tiny blooms which
clothed 1t to its summit. This amorpho-
/ phallus belongs to tue aruu family, many
members II which are common among our
wild flowers, and fami lar to us all But a
wide gulf separates 1t from Its modest con-
geners of the temperate zone
The spathe or encircling frill from which
rises the spadix measured feet across and
was feet deep. The inter or of this spathe
held for those who pinched their noses and
had the courage to look into its depths a
wonderful show Of color-meroon purpIe
tlnged with a violet velvet-like sheen. in
describably beautiful. This lining has a
superb effect, pouring over the edges
greenlsh white, boldly t0othed and
crumpied. The spadix measured feet
from its base. which was 10 inches
in diameter, and gradually narrowed
to blunt point, green at first. but
as 1t grew older turning to drab The stat
ure OF tue entire flower was feet 9 inches.
and In future years, whenever the tub r
chooses to again develop another bloom.
these wondrous dimensions will no doub5
De exceeded. Amorphophallus titanum can
hardly be expected to become a favorite
hover with alnateurs-its carrion perfume
torblds that-but it will always remain the
supreme wonder of tue floral kingdom. un-
less some enterprisIng explorer discovers in
some out OF the way nook of Q world a
greater and more surprising development
Of natures handiWork.