Observations on Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. ex Arcangeli in the Forest of Sumatra

On the occasion of the centenary of the death of Odoardo Beccari the Botanical Garden of Florence organised two expe- ditions in Sumatra (in September 1994 and 1995) to study Amorphopballus titanum in nature and bring it to Florence to try to grow it. In the course of the two expedi- tions eight inflorescences and four infruc- tescences were found. The inflorescences were at various stages of development and it was possible to sketch a general outline of the flowering process. We will give a detailed description only of the specimen which we observed minute by minute as its blossomed. For the others we will just list the most significant characteristics