Common names: Devil's Tongue, Voodoo Lily Leopard Palm, Corpse Flower Snake Palm, Umbrella Arum Family: Araceae Plant and photos: John Moran, USA The unplanted tuber showing the flower beginning to emerge. February 19th it was 6 inches high. It grew to 12 inches by March 16th and as you can see in the next photo, it grew to 36 inches tall by March 24th. The final height of the flower was 78" on April 5th when the spathe was fully open.

March 24th 36" tall.

April 5th. 78 inches tall. Spathe, a gorgeous plum color, is now almost fully open with white pollen grains evident. The flower gives off a foul smell.

See THE AMATEURS' DIGEST September, 2003 Vol 15 Issue 3 for the interesting story behind this plant, many additional photos showing the progression of this amazing flower and detailed instructions on how to grow, flower and propagate this tuber.

When old enough, the Amorphophallus tuber produces a fascinating six foot plus tall flower in early May, before the leaf emerges and in this case, even before the tuber is planted in the ground. This plant flowered in John's home and he made a picture record of the progress from day one.

The flower resembles a giant purple vase, the lower part of which has greenish brown spots. The vase (called a spathe) is home to a 3' purple spadix that sits atop a 2' speckled petiole. The flower has a really foul smell.