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July 8, 2004 37 inches (94 cm) tall
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July 9, 2004 42 inches (107 cm) tall
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| This is our first installment of our daily Titan update. For those receiving this who haven•t heard, Disney's Horticulture is proud to present its first blooming of the Amorphophallus titanum, the Titan Arum. This will be only the 26th blooming of this species ever in the United States. The Titan is now on stage at Bradley Falls in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Our first measurements were taken yesterday (7/08/04) when the bud was 37 inches (94 cm) tall. Today, it's 42 inches (107 cm) tall. That's right--it grew 5 inches since yesterday! Based on data of growth patterns of Titan bloomings elsewhere, we estimate the opening of the flower to occur somewhere between July 17th and 19th. Many factors affect the timing, so this is purely an estimate--it could be a little before or after this range. As the daily growth rate begins to slow, we will know we're getting close. When the growth rate stops, the bud should open within 24 hours. This plant was repotted 2 months ago and the tuber weighed 40 pounds (18.2 Kg). Previous Titans of similar size have produced an inflorescence around 5 feet (366 cm) tall. The largest tuber in the Walt Disney World collection weighed 90 pounds (41 Kg) when repotted this year. The 90 pounder has yet to reveal if it will flower this year, however, it is producing an unusual bract (see below) around its new growth similar to the plant that is currently in bud--so we are hopeful. I think we'll know by Monday. |
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Unusual flower bract.
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