Tiffy Opens up for the first time! The spathe began to
unfurl at 2pm Pacific Standard Time, Tuesday 13 June 2000,
and continued to midnight. News crews were on hand to
provide live broadcasts. The smell was most intense at this
time. We speculate that the primary pollinators of the plant
are night-active beetles, probably carrion beetles or sap
beetles. Note the upright funnel shape of the spathe and the
smoothness of the spadix.
Taken by Leo C. Song, Jr., at 9:00pm Pacific Standard
Time, Tuesday 13 June 2000. Click once on Tiffy for a larger
photograph.
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Bob Allen gets a whiff of Tiffy. Note that the tips of
the spathe are curving downward and the spadix is beginning
to shrivel.
Taken by Dr. Douglas J. Eernisse, at about 9:00am Pacific
Standard Time, Wednesday 13 June 2000. Click once on Tiffy
for a larger photograph.
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Chris Barnhill and Leo Song begin to pollinate Tiffy.
Pollen was provided by the Huntington Garden. They froze
pollen from their bloom of 1999. Note that the tips of the
spathe are continuing to curve downward and the spadix has
shrivelled even more.
Taken by Bob L. Allen, at about 3:00pm Pacific Standard
Time, Wednesday 13 June 2000. Click once on Tiffy for a
larger photograph.
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