Watch it grow - first 2002 flowering (early
May)
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
4 April 2002
c. 350 mm
At this stage it is not known if it will grow into a leaf
or a flower as the evidence is hidden deep inside the bud. |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
16 April 2002
0.8 m
The first tentative evidence emerges that it is a flower
as the base of the bud begins to swell |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
24 April 2002
1.8m @ 9am; 1.9 m @1pm!
bud sheathes beginning to wilt, base of spathe appearing
through bud sheathes |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
26 April 2002
2.05 m
red colour developing more on frilled edge of spathe, but
still pale and blotchy. Cooler weather has led to a slowing
of growth. |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
28 April 2002
2.20 m |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
29 April 2002
2.30 m
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
30 April 2002
2.36 m
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
1 May 2002
-
Overnight the titan arum inflorescence undertook a remarkable
transformation as the spathe opened to reveal the stunning,
dark red interior. This coincided with the onset of the foul
stench which now fills the air around the plant and throughout
the moist tropics zone of the Princess of Wales Conservatory |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
2 May 2002
-
As the crowds flock in the spathe starts to close, a possible
indication that our efforts to pollinate the plant have been
successful. At the same time the foul odour, used to attract
pollinating insects, subsides. |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
3 May 2002
-
The odour is almost gone and the flower has closed up still
further. |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
4 May 2002
-
The flower has clearly finished its performance but it remains
an impressive site with the spadix still standing tall. |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
5 May 2002
-
Four days after flowering the spadix collapses. We now wait
to see if pollination attempts have been successful and the
flowering structures gives way to reveal a huge spike of red
fruits. |
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Date:
Height:
Description: |
6 May 2002
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Date:
Height:
Description |
10 May 2002
- |
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Date:
Height:
Description |
13 May 2002
- |
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Date:
Height:
Description |
17 May 2002
- |
Back
up to: recent flowerings at Kew
On
to: second 2002 flowering