The Corpse Flower has reached 56.5 (144 cm) inches tall, which is an increase of 6.5 inches since Saturday (the last time anyone checked). So, growth is holding steady at a little over three inches per day. That's probably going to be the maximum rate of growth for this bloom, and I'm guessing that growth will taper off in the next day or so. Larger plants have been reported to sustain growth rates around 8 inches (20 cm) per day.Typically, the growth of A. titanum inflorescences reaches a peak, holds steady for a few days, then decelerates until flowering, with the flower opening about a week after the growth rate starts to decline. So, the smart money is still on Monday, July 7. The blooms open in late afternoon, and reach their peak stinkiness in the wee hours of the next morning. Our past flowers have lasted less than a day in prime condition, with pollen being shed from the male florets and the bloom starting to fold up the day after opening.
Readers in Connecticut might want to check out the local news on NBC 30 tonight: a camera crew was around the greenhouse today, filming the Titan Arum and other points of interest for a segment on things to do at UConn over the summer.
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