Second Amorphophallus titanum bloom at
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Homo Erectus’s Growth Chart
Date | Height |
---|---|
6/11/2023 | 15″ |
6/12/2023 | 16″ |
6/13/2023 | 17.5″ |
6/14/2023 | 19.5″ |
6/15/2023 | 22.5″ |
6/16/2023 | 25.5″ |
6/17/2023 | 28.5″ |
6/18/2023 | 32″ |
6/19/2023 | 35.5″ |
6/20/2023 | 39″ |
6/21/2023 | 43.5″ |
6/22/2023 | 46.5″ |
6/23/2023 | 51.5″ |
6/24/2023 | 56″ |
6/25/2023 | 60″ |
6/26/2023 | 64″ |
6/27/2023 | 66″ |
6/28/2023 | 68″ |
6/29/2023 | 69.5″ |
6/30/2023 | 71″ |
In June 2023, another bulb weighing in at only 21lbs (rather small for a species that can get over 200lbs) surprised us with a flower bud. It was subsequently christened, A. titanum Homo Erectus.
Amorphophallus titanum Homo Erectus is one we inherited with the passing of our dear friend and amorphophallus guru, Alan Galloway. Alan’s plant is one that we originally grew here from seed. On June 11, it was a mere 15” tall, at which time, we knew for sure that it was a flower bud instead of a leaf. By June 22, it had already reached 4’ in height. Despite the small tuber size, it topped out at 71” tall on June 30, when the cataphylls dropped, and the spathe (skirt) began to disrobe from the spadix.
Unlike our previous A. Peter Grande, which tried to set seed, but aborted, rotting the entire tuber, this one already flushed a giant new leaf by mid-November. We anxiously await it’s next inflorescence, which could take from 1-5 years.