Thematic Bigger Flowers

OrchidJulie · 09-23-2022, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

This image was posted several years ago. "Corpse flower" generally acknowledged to be the largest flower. It attracts flies for pollination by smelling like something dead and well-rotted, a supposedly rank, offense-to-humans stench. ...

To get technical, this is not a flower. It is a spathe (yellow central stalk) surrounded by spadix (the "petals" that embrace the spathe). The actual flowers are very small and very numerous and grow all around the spathe hidden low down under the spadix. They are segregated into a band of male flowers higher up,then a band of female flowers down at the very base of the Spathe. The gardeners had cut a small window through the spadix around the other side of the plant so the flowers could be seen and photographed by visitors.

Flower or not, it's a marvelous, impressive thing. And this specimen is not as big as they get.

Indeed, Amorphophallus giganteum. This is a medium-sized specimen, they can get half again as big. Fairchild has several of them. Some years ago one of them (the largest, "Mr. Stinky") bloomed. I can attest to the stench, it smells exactly like something very large, well and truly dead, and rotting. Detectable downwind for about a city block or farther. They had the plant on display in the entry foyer of the "rare plant house" and hired some security rent-a-cops to prevent any mischief...the poor guards had to wear gas masks inside the building. Re the bands of flowers, the male flowers open first, so Fairchild collected as much pollen as possible and donated it to several other botanical gardens (including Atlanta, as I recall), shipping it by FedEx to arrive in time to pollinate their plant which was also about to flower.
Stench or no, I did brave it and got some film images, but I don't know where the prints are

. If I find them I'll share.
It drew such a crowd that a couple of years later, when another one of the plants was nearing bloom, they moved it to another, larger space at the garden, but the plant sulked as a result and the bloom was disappointing.
But trust me, it stinks. Only for a few days, but pretty horrible while it's doing its thing. (BTW, it's an aroid, related to philodendrons)

**Tonytee** · 09-23-2022, 01:40 PM - **1 Like**

Taken with: Canon EOS 80D body with a Canon EF-S 55~250mm, IS, STM Lens.

Many thanks for viewing.

Tony

**WPRESTO** · 09-25-2022, 05:55 AM - **1 Like**

This flower was blooming on a small tree in a garden at a place we stayed in Africa. It's pretty enough to be well-known, but not by me.

OrchidJulie · 09-25-2022, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

This flower was blooming on a small tree in a garden at a place we stayed in Africa. It's pretty enough to be well-known, but not by me.

Hm. Might be an Adenium (desert rose), there are some lesser-known species that have that central stripe part of the flower. Pretty, whatever it is.

OrchidJulie · 09-26-2022, 09:08 AM - **1 Like**

Brassavola nodosa, "lady of the night" (La Dama de la Noche in Latin America), blooming now on the trunk of a pygmy date palm. These flowers have a nearly overpowering fragrance at night only, this plant perfumes the entire back and side yards. Hopefully it will be OK with the bad weather the next few days. (I've posted images of a different plant before, this is the largest of several plants of this orchids I have growing in the yard)

**Tonytee** · 09-27-2022, 05:37 PM

Taken with: Canon EOS 7D MK II body and a Canon EF-S 55~250mm, IS, STM Lens.

Many thanks for viewing.

Tony

**ivanvernon** · 09-27-2022, 11:16 PM

with the K-1 and Takumar 55mm f 1.8. Dahlia and a hydrangea scene.

Attached Images

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**Tonytee** · 09-28-2022, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

with the K-1 and Takumar 55mm f 1.8. Dahlia and a hydrangea scene.

A very lovely floral series there, friend. Awesome.

Tony

**noelcmn** · 09-28-2022, 12:43 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

This flower was blooming on a small tree in a garden at a place we stayed in Africa. It's pretty enough to be well-known, but not by me.

Impala Lily. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenium_multiflorum

**ivanvernon** · 09-28-2022, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by Tonytee

A very lovely floral series there, friend. Awesome.

Tony

Thank you. It is nice to see that the old equipment still has some real value.

**WPRESTO** · 09-28-2022, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by noelcmn

Impala Lily. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenium_multiflorum

Thanks noelcmn, i expected that you would come through with the id.

The sunflower image below is old, shot with a Fuji S9000. It's a classic way to get an alternative perspective on one of these big blossoms.

OrchidJulie · 09-28-2022, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

Thanks noelcmn, i expected that you would come through with the id.

Indeed, yes, thanks. I'm gratified that the SWAG I gave you was close to the mark.

**WPRESTO** · 09-28-2022, 10:03 AM

Scan from a chrome. I do not remember what these are called.

OrchidJulie · 09-28-2022, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

Scan from a chrome. I do not remember what these are called.

another SWAG -- jacaranda, maybe

**Tonytee** · 09-29-2022, 05:38 PM

Taken with: Canon EOS 7D MK II body and a Canon EF-S 55~250mm, IS, STM Lens.

Many thanks for viewing.

Tony

09-23-2022, 01:40 PM - 1 Like	#3857
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,505	A Picture Speaks.... Taken with: Canon EOS 80D body with a Canon EF-S 55~250mm, IS, STM Lens. Many thanks for viewing. Tony

09-27-2022, 05:37 PM	#3861
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,505	Long, tall sally Anthurium Plant Flower. :) Taken with: Canon EOS 7D MK II body and a Canon EF-S 55~250mm, IS, STM Lens. Many thanks for viewing. Tony

09-29-2022, 05:38 PM	#3870
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,505	One very lovely Canna Lily. Taken with: Canon EOS 7D MK II body and a Canon EF-S 55~250mm, IS, STM Lens. Many thanks for viewing. Tony

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09-23-2022, 08:34 AM	#3856
OrchidJulie Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Magic City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,963	Originally posted by WPRESTO This image was posted several years ago. "Corpse flower" generally acknowledged to be the largest flower. It attracts flies for pollination by smelling like something dead and well-rotted, a supposedly rank, offense-to-humans stench. ... To get technical, this is not a flower. It is a spathe (yellow central stalk) surrounded by spadix (the "petals" that embrace the spathe). The actual flowers are very small and very numerous and grow all around the spathe hidden low down under the spadix. They are segregated into a band of male flowers higher up,then a band of female flowers down at the very base of the Spathe. The gardeners had cut a small window through the spadix around the other side of the plant so the flowers could be seen and photographed by visitors. Flower or not, it's a marvelous, impressive thing. And this specimen is not as big as they get. Indeed, Amorphophallus giganteum. This is a medium-sized specimen, they can get half again as big. Fairchild has several of them. Some years ago one of them (the largest, "Mr. Stinky") bloomed. I can attest to the stench, it smells exactly like something very large, well and truly dead, and rotting. Detectable downwind for about a city block or farther. They had the plant on display in the entry foyer of the "rare plant house" and hired some security rent-a-cops to prevent any mischief...the poor guards had to wear gas masks inside the building. Re the bands of flowers, the male flowers open first, so Fairchild collected as much pollen as possible and donated it to several other botanical gardens (including Atlanta, as I recall), shipping it by FedEx to arrive in time to pollinate their plant which was also about to flower. Stench or no, I did brave it and got some film images, but I don't know where the prints are . If I find them I'll share. It drew such a crowd that a couple of years later, when another one of the plants was nearing bloom, they moved it to another, larger space at the garden, but the plant sulked as a result and the bloom was disappointing. But trust me, it stinks. Only for a few days, but pretty horrible while it's doing its thing. (BTW, it's an aroid, related to philodendrons)

09-25-2022, 09:10 AM	#3859
OrchidJulie Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Magic City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,963	Originally posted by WPRESTO This flower was blooming on a small tree in a garden at a place we stayed in Africa. It's pretty enough to be well-known, but not by me. Hm. Might be an Adenium (desert rose), there are some lesser-known species that have that central stripe part of the flower. Pretty, whatever it is.

09-28-2022, 12:36 AM	#3863
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,505	Originally posted by ivanvernon with the K-1 and Takumar 55mm f 1.8. Dahlia and a hydrangea scene. A very lovely floral series there, friend. Awesome. Tony

09-28-2022, 12:43 AM	#3864
noelcmn Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Africa-Johannesburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 46,210	Originally posted by WPRESTO This flower was blooming on a small tree in a garden at a place we stayed in Africa. It's pretty enough to be well-known, but not by me. Impala Lily. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenium_multiflorum

09-28-2022, 04:13 AM	#3865
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Originally posted by Tonytee A very lovely floral series there, friend. Awesome. Tony Thank you. It is nice to see that the old equipment still has some real value.

09-28-2022, 06:19 AM	#3867
OrchidJulie Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Magic City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,963	Originally posted by WPRESTO Thanks noelcmn, i expected that you would come through with the id. Indeed, yes, thanks. I'm gratified that the SWAG I gave you was close to the mark.

09-28-2022, 01:05 PM	#3869
OrchidJulie Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Magic City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,963	Originally posted by WPRESTO Scan from a chrome. I do not remember what these are called. another SWAG -- jacaranda, maybe