| Amorphophallus decus-silvae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Inflorescence at Hortus Botanicus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Genus: | Amorphophallus |
| Species: | A. decus-silvae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Amorphophallus decus-silvae Backer & Alderw. 1863
| |
Amorphophallus decus-silvae, known as the West-Java giant amorphophallus, is a flowering plant in the family Araceae.1 It is native to West Java and was first described by Dutch botanist Cornelis Andries Backer in 1863.23
Description
A. decus-silvae produces large phallic-shaped inflorescences. The inflorescence can reach up to 3.5 m (11 ft) tall. It resembles its relatives Amorphophallus titanum and Amorphophallus gigas in having a large spathe and spadix.4
A. decus-silvae flowers rarely and for only a few days. Similar to other species in the Amorphophallus genus, A. decus-silvae has the smell of rotten flesh to attract pollinators such as flesh flies. It has a large corm which stores energy.5
References
References
- "Amorphophallus decus-silvae". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- Govaerts, R.; Frodin, D.G. (2002). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae). World Checklists and Bibliographies of Higher Plants. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 1–560. ISBN 9781842460368.
- Yuzammi, Yuzammi (2009). "The genus Amorphophallus Blume ex Decaisne (Araceae - Thomsonieae) in Java". Reinwardtia. 13 (1): 1–12.
- "The rare 'penis plant' just bloomed for the first time in over two decades". CNN. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- "A rare 'penis plant' that smells like rotting flesh has bloomed in the Netherlands". CBC. Retrieved 23 April 2026.