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Amorphophallus titanum Becoming Rare in the Wild
Titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum, is threatened by development in its native Sumatran rain forest habitat. The plant bears the largest cluster of flowers found in nature. Often billed as the world's largest flower, its rare bloom is a popular attraction at botanical gardens. Around 600 gardens now grow the plant outside of Sumatra.
Many of the tubers that were removed from the wild for display at botanical gardens were taken illegally. While residential construction is encroaching on the native rain forest habitat of the titan arum, poaching is still a threat and tougher laws are needed to protect the plants.
Link: Rare flowers disappearing from Sumatran rain forests from The Jakarta Post
Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:37 PM on March 29, 2005
