Carrion flowers, also known as beautiful flowers or stinking flowers, are mimetic flowers that emit an odor that smells like decomposition flesh. Apart from the scent, carrion flowers often display additional characteristics that contribute to the mimesis of a decaying corpse. These include their specific coloration (red, purple, brown), the presence of setae, and Body orifice-like flower architecture. Carrion flowers attract mostly scavenging Fly and as . Some species may trap the temporarily to ensure the gathering and transfer of pollen.
Plants known as "carrion flower"
Amorphophallus
Many plants in the genus
Amorphophallus (family
Araceae) are known as carrion flowers. One such plant is the Titan arum (
Amorphophallus titanum), which has the world's largest unbranched
inflorescence. Rather than a single flower, the titan arum presents an inflorescence or compound flower composed of a spadix or stalk of small and anatomically reduced male and female flowers, surrounded by a
spathe that resembles a single giant petal. This plant has a mechanism to heat up the spadix enhancing the emission of the strong odor to attract its pollinators,
carrion-eating
and "flesh flies" (family
Sarcophagidae). It was first described scientifically in 1878 in
Sumatra.
[ Live Science]
Rafflesia
Flowers of plants in the genus
Rafflesia (family
Rafflesiaceae) emit an odor to attract the flies that
pollination the plant. The world's largest single bloom is that of
R. arnoldii. This rare flower is found in the
of
Borneo and
Sumatra. It can grow to be across and can weigh up to .
R. arnoldii is a
parasite plant on
Tetrastigma vine, which grows only in primary rainforests. It has no visible leaves, roots, or stem. It does not
photosynthesis, but rather uses the host plant to obtain water and nutrients.
Stapelia
Plants in the genus
Stapelia are also called "carrion flowers". They are small, spineless, cactus-like succulent plants. Most species are native to South Africa, and are grown as potted plants elsewhere. The flowers of all species are hairy to varying degrees. The color and smell of the flowers both mimic rotting
meat. This attracts scavenging flies, for pollination. The flowers in some species can be very large, notably
Stapelia gigantea can reach in diameter.
Smilax or Nemexia
In North America, the herbaceous vines of the
genus Smilax are known as carrion flowers. These plants have a cluster of small greenish flowers. The most familiar member of this groups is
Smilax herbacea. These plants are sometimes placed in the genus
Nemexia.
Bulbophyllum (Orchid)
Orchids of the genus
Bulbophyllum produce strongly scented flowers. The flowers produce various odors resembling sap, urine, blood, dung, carrion, and, in some species, fragrant fruity aromas. Most are fly-pollinated, and attract hordes of flies.
Bulbophyllum beccarii,
Bulbophyllum fletcherianum and
Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis in bloom have been likened to smelling like a herd of dead elephants. Their overpowering floral odors are sometimes described as making it difficult to walk into a greenhouse in which they are in bloom.
[Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ]
Scent
The sources of the flowers' unique scent are not fully identified, partly due to the extremely low concentration of the compounds (5 to 10 parts per billion). Biochemical tests on
Amorphophallus species revealed foul-smelling
such as dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, and in other species, trace amounts of
such as
putrescine and
cadaverine have been found.
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Methyl thioacetate (which has a cheesy, garlic-like odor) and
isovaleric acid (smells of sweat) also contribute to the smell of the flower.
Trimethylamine is the cause of the "rotten fish smell" towards the end of the flower's life.
Pollination
Both visual interactions and odor are important attractants for pollinators.
In order for pollination to occur, a relationship of attraction and reward must be present between the flower and the pollinator. The pollinator's body mechanically promotes pollen adherence, which is necessary for effective pollen dispersal. The recognizable scent of the carrion flowers is produced in the petals of both male and female flowers and the pollen reward attracts beetles and flies.
Popular pollinators of carrion flowers are blowflies (
Calliphoridae), house flies (
Muscidae), flesh flies (
Sarcophagidae) and varying types of beetles, due to the scents produced by the plant.
Fly pollinators are typically attracted to pale, dull plants or those with translucent patches. Additionally, these plants produce pollen, do not have present nectar guides and flowers resemble a funnel or complex trap.
The host plant can sometimes trap the pollinator during the pollination/feeding process.
Other plants with carrion-scented flowers
Annonaceae
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Asimina, commonly referred to as "pawpaw"
-
Sapranthus palanga
Apocynaceae
Araceae
Aristolochiaceae
-
Aristolochia californica, A. grandiflora, A. microstoma, A. salvadorensis, A. littoralis
-
Hydnora
Asparagaceae
Balanophoraceae
Bignoniaceae
Burmanniaceae
Cytinaceae
Iridaceae
Malvaceae
Melanthiaceae
Orchidaceae
See also
-
Stinkhorn — fungi that use the same basic principle for spore dispersal
-
Aseroe rubra — fungi that use the same basic principle for spore dispersal
External links
