'Tabatha the Titan' begins making seeds

	In the photo above, the parts of the corpse flower plant whose job it was to attract pollinators have withered away but the stalk and orange fruits are still looking plump. (Ernesto Sandoval/UC Davis photo 9.13.2004)

A month after her bloom, Tabatha the Titan is on her way to making seeds at the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory, reports Curator Ernesto Sandoval.

Although staff botanists do not know how long the process will take, Sandoval says they expect the fruits from this Amorphophallus titanum to begin swelling to the size of a very large date and will eventually be a bright red/orange color.

A different kind of smell is expected from these new plants because Tabatha's flower was fertilized with pollen from a related species, Amorphophallus bulbifer.

The corpse flower bloomed on Aug. 13, 2004, after a five-week development period. It was the second bloom for UC Davis.

The bloom drew more than 4,000 people from Northern California to the conservatory. The plant's webcam was visited more than 11,000 times in just nine days and people checked out this Web site more than 52,500 times during the four weeks that word was out about the bloom.

	Tabatha the Titan, at 60.5 inches, is considered a moderate-height corpse flower among those grown in conservatories. (Ernesto Sandoval/UC Davis photo)

This year two experiments were performed, one on temperature and humidity changes and the other on gas sampling. Next year Sandoval hopes to see that research to continue plus perhaps some X-ray crystallography to determine the exact chemical nature of the odor.

Two corpse flowers are expected to bloom in summer 2005, including Ted (who bloomed in 2003) and corpse flower sibling Tammy, Sandoval reports. He is gathering e-mail addresses of people who would like to be on an e-mail list to receive news about the corpse flowers. Contact him at jesandoval@ucdavis.edu.

Stay tuned through a site that shows Tabatha's progression through photos.

Time-lapse video of Tabatha's bloom

Video reports by Ernesto Sandoval and students

• Tabatha's imminent bloom announced (1.08 minutes, 8.13.04)
• Flies and beetles that pollinate corpse flowers (1.18 minutes, 8.13.04)
• The science being done on Tabatha (1.34 minutes, 8.13.04)
• Corpse flower slows growth to prepare for bloom (.58 minutes, 8.12.04)
• When to catch the smell at its worst (3.50 minutes, 8.11.04)
• Why corpse flowers have only one leaf (3.17 minutes, 8.10.04)
• Explaining the parts of a blooming corpse flower (4.12 minutes, 8.9.04)
• Talk about Ted the Titan (1:10 minutes, June 2003)

Temperature readings

Temperature and humidity sensors were placed on and near Tabatha the Titan as pomology professor Ken Shackel tested his hypothesis about why corpse flowers bloom when they do. Check out his graph with the data on the Web.

Directions to the Botanical Conservatory

Corpse flower FAQ (updated 8.19.04)

Tabatha's progression through photos

News and information about Tabatha

From left, conservatory Director Tim Metcalf and Curator Ernesto Sandoval spent much time consulting during the August 2004 bloom with Dan Gladish, a botany professor from Miami University in Hamilton, Ohio. Gladish, an alumni, was visiting to pick up management tips for his new conservatory. (UC Davis Botanical Conservatory photo)

• Stinky but not carnivorous (by Barry Rice 8.6.04)
• Hold your nose: The corpse flower is back at UC Davis (UC Davis News Service press release 8.3.04)

Ted the Titan slideshow (June 23, 2003)

2004 corpse flower T-shirt

You can buy 2004 T-shirts with the Titan Arum logo at the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory or by mail. Proceeds will benefit Botanical Conservatory programs. Make checks out to" UC Regents."

Sizes

• Youth: M, L
• Adult: S, M, L (XL on order)

Prices

• At UC Davis Botanical Conservatory: $15
• By mail in the USA: $20
• By mail outside the USA: $25

For mail delivery, send your order with check or money order to:

• Ernesto Sandoval
  Division Of Biological Sciences Greenhouses
  UC Davis
  Davis, California 95616