Hand Pollination of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius

Removal of the spathe in preparation for pollination

In order to get complete and easy access to the female flowers of the spadix for pollination, the spadix had to be removed. By carefully cutting around the base of the spathe, the spathe can be released from the inflorescence and carefully removed.

Aroids have exuberant amounts of oxalic acid raphides in their tissues and Amorphophallus is no exception to this. Therefore, I wore latex gloves to protect my skin from the irritating sap.

What do you do with a liberated large spathe of an Amorphophallus paeoniifolius? Take a look at this lighthearted idea!

This page was created by Scott Hyndman for the I.A.S. on January 7, 2001.