Lichentopia

Amorphophallus titanum, aka the corpse plant, is endemic to Sumatra yet it resides at many botanical gardens worldwide. Typically this species blooms once every 5-10 years & emits a stench akin to rotting flesh in order to attract pollinators.

Less commonly known about this plant genus: it has a predilection for appearing like it is coated in lichens & cyanobacteria (zoom into the bottom of it to see some of these textures). Research published in 2019 proposes “that the visual expression of lichen and cyanobacteria mimicry enables the huge and fleshy petioles to look like solid non-edible tree trunks, a classic case of masquerade, probably as defence against herbivores.”

This A. titanum began blooming on Nov. 4, 2021 at the New York Botanical Garden, 📸 the following day by staff member & lichenologist Amanda Chandler— thanks for allowing us to post your photo!

Reference: “Mimicry of lichens and cyanobacteria on tree-sized Amorphophallus petioles results in their masquerade as inedible tree trunks” by C. Claudel et al

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