The titan arum produces the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence and is famous for its foul smell when it blooms. Its scientific name is Amorphophallus titanum, and it is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia.
What appears to be one enormous flower is actually an inflorescence: a central spadix covered with many tiny flowers and surrounded by a large, pleated spathe. The structure can grow several metres tall. Its odor resembles rotting meat and attracts carrion beetles and flies that may carry pollen.
The plant spends much of its life as an underground corm. It alternates between producing a large leaf and developing a flowering structure, with blooms separated by years in some plants. After flowering, the corm may produce a tall, tree-like leaf.
The titan arum is often incorrectly called the world’s largest flower. That record refers to Rafflesia arnoldii’s single flower, whereas the titan arum’s record concerns an entire unbranched cluster of flowers.