titan arum

noun

: the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum)
The titan arum produces the stink as it tries to attract insects to pollinate the male and female flowers it holds deep inside a pod. But the rarity of the plant—and its bloom—makes the stench worth it to horticulturists, few of whom can claim the achievement of growing one.Jeremiah Dobruck

Examples of titan arum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These large, flashy flowers—also known as titan arum—are famous for producing a pungent odor that stinks like rotting flesh. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025 The flower of the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium) is the largest unbranched flower in the world and can reach up to 15 feet tall. Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 What Smells Attract Ants? Ants and other insects are attracted to this Indonesian plant, the titan arum, thanks to its strange, decaying stench. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2023 The giant flowering titan arum plant, which can grow up to 10 feet tall and is one of the largest flowering plants in the world, is in the process of blooming at the zoo. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 27 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of titan arum was in 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Titan arum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/titan%20arum. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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