Amorphophallus titanum in Plantentuin U Gent   81888
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Location: Gent (20 m)      by: Mentor Depret
Area: Belgium      Date: 2017 05 11
On May 10 this year, University Ghent proudly announced that the 'Plantentuin' succeeded for the second time to blossom an Amorphophallus titanum (Dutch: Reuzenaronskelk, German: Titanenwurz).
Since I read the news the next day, I immediately went to Ghent because the bloom lasts for only two days.
The Amorphallus titanum is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world and native solely in the rain forests of western Sumatra, Indonesia. The 'flower' in Ghent measured a height of 246 cm. Botanically speaking this isn't a flower but an inflorescence comprised of a yellowish spadix wrapped by a big purple-reddish spathe (kind of leaf) which looks like a petal (pics 2,3,4). Near the bottom of the spadix you find a ring of small female flowers and above a ring of small male flowers. The bloom itself is comprised of two phases spread over two nights. During the first night, the female flowers open followed by the male flowers the second night. This is to prevent self-pollinating. When the female flowers are ready for pollination the tip of the spadix warms up to human body temperature and spreads a disgusting, rotten meat smell to attract certain beetles and flesh flies to accomplish pollination. If successful, red berries appear which are spread by birds.
After the flower dies back, a single leaf structure grows from the underground corm. This leaf structure can reach up to 6 m height and 5 m across (pic1). Each year, the old leaf dies and a new one grows up. When the corm has stored enough energy (sugars) it becomes dormant for several months. Then the process repeats. But sometimes and rather rarely, the plant decides not to produce a leaf but a spectacular inflorescence.

Canon G1Xmark2, collage pano stitched with Turbocollage 6.


Comments

Amazing! 
Although it's not a panoramic photo, technically speaking, I like it anyway mostly for the beutiness and genius of nature, which manages to build up these giant creatures.
Ciao, Alvise
2017/10/03 09:07 , Alvise Bonaldo
Not a pano, but highly interesting, thanks.
2017/10/03 10:20 , Martin Kraus
I think it is even better than a pano which will show little or nothing of the subject. But if this is not an appropriate presentation here, I will remove it.
2017/10/03 11:52 , Mentor Depret
The picture series and your description is very exciting, Mentor, and in my opinion it can be shown here - but it shouldn't be a problem for you, if you get only few "stars" ;-).

Few months ago, I've also shown a series with some single shots and 4 small panoramas from my Ben Nevis tour (#21515). I think it isn't a problem, if it doesn't become the rule ;-) ...

Best regards
Hans-Jörg
2017/10/03 12:20 , Hans-Jörg Bäuerle
Hi Mentor. In Italy we say:
rules with enemies apply, with friends being interpreted ;-)

I share your opinion and I prefer this pano to others that show uninteresting or repetitive views. But I also share what Hans-Jörg wrote. One can go well, but it can not become a habit.
2017/10/03 20:53 , Giuseppe Marzulli
Thanks everybody for the nice comments.
2017/10/04 15:33 , Mentor Depret
Well, I don't agree this is not a pano. If you put the different parts on a wall and then you shoot and stitch them, you obtain exactly the same result, thus all of the sudden it becomes a pano.
2017/10/08 19:57 , Mentor Depret
Dear Mentor.

As already stated, I don't think this collage is a problem as long as it does not become the rule. Most of us like these kinds of extraordinary news or experiments. One must however simply accept, that not all find it interesting.

Regarding a pano, the generel consensus is, that in this forum the understanding of panoramas is the stitching of photos, thereby producing what cannot be captured in a single shot. Sometimes, stitching of vertical motifs ends up being somewhat "bite-less", due to the limit of 500 pixels. Discussed long ago on Heinz' #8426.
2017/10/08 21:33 , Jan Lindgaard Rasmussen

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