Planta Med 2016; 82 - PB39
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1578687

Contributions To Morpho-Anatomy And Odor-Chemistry Of 'Carrion Flower' (Amorphophallus Titanum)

V Raman 1, N Tabanca 1, 2, B Demirci 3, IA Khan 1, 4
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 2Present address: Department of Entomology and Nematology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, 26470 Eskisehir, Turkey
  • 4Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

The inflorescence of Amorphophallus titanum (Araceae) is the largest of its kind in the world. It appears and functions like a single flower hence it is often referred to as a 'flower'. It is called as 'carrion flower' or 'corpse flower' due to its characteristically unpleasant rotting meat-like odor. A. titanum is a rare and endemic species. It blooms rarely and its blooming in cultivation is even rarer. The present work illustrates detailed anatomy of the inflorescence by light and scanning electron microscopy. Volatile compounds from different parts of the inflorescence were collected using a modified Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction technique and their chemical components were analyzed by GC-MS. Several additional odorant components were observed in the floral scent. The major volatile compounds found in the floral scent included butyl acetate, γ-butyrolactone, isovaleric acid, tetradecane, butyric acid, benzylalcohol, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone.

Acknowledgements: This research was supported by USDA-ARS grant # 56 – 6402 – 1-612, Deployed War-Fighter Protection Research Program Grant funded by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Armed Forces Pest Management Board. Dr. Louis Ricciardiello of Gilford, New Hampshire donated the seeds and the plants were raised and cared for by Dr. Aruna Weerasooriya, Edward Lowe, Derek Oglesby and Lal Jayaratna at the Maynard W. Quimby Medicinal Plant Garden, University of Mississippi.