Botanic Gardens Encounter Recordkeeping Issues with Corpse Flowers, Increasing Inbreeding Risks, Study Reveals

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Inconsistent data may be hurting conservation efforts for these endangered plants, known for attracting visitors to their scent of rotting flesh

Sarah Kuta – Daily Correspondent

April 23, 2025 12:30 p.m.

Corpse flowers, also referred to as titan arum, are renowned not only for their striking appearance but also for their notorious smell, reminiscent of decaying flesh. These extraordinary blooms attract huge crowds to botanic gardens. However, despite their enigmatic allure, the species is facing significant threats from genetic decline, primarily due to inconsistent and often inadequate recordkeeping practices across various botanical institutions worldwide.

Current estimates indicate that merely 162 individuals of the corpse flower species (Amorphophallus titanum) exist in the wild, raising urgent conservation concerns. Botanic gardens globally play a pivotal role in efforts to safeguard this magnificent species, but a recent study published in the journal Annals of Botany underscores the pressing need for improved documentation.

The study has revealed significant deficiencies in the data maintained by botanic gardens regarding corpse flowers. Researchers observing these inconsistencies noted that the records are often poorly standardized and decentralized. This lack of comprehensive data isn’t just a minor oversight; it has substantial ramifications, potentially leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased inbreeding within cultivated populations.

Lead author Olivia Murrell emphasized the unintentional nature of these practices, stating, “We don’t think people are consciously making the choice to inbreed their plants. They just don’t know what they have, because the data are incomplete.” Inbreeding among these plants can result in reduced reproductive success, with some blooms exhibiting no viable pollen or experiencing premature death after flowering. Alarmingly, researchers found instances of albino corpse flower progeny that failed to survive due to lack of chlorophyll, signaling serious conservational threats.

The overarching concern is that a genetically uniform population is more susceptible to diseases and pests, exacerbating the risk of extinction. Murrell noted, “The population needs variation to survive. If nothing changes, it could inbreed itself into extinction.”

“We’ve got work to do”

To gain insights into the genetic health of corpse flowers, researchers analyzed data from 111 institutions across multiple continents, documenting nearly 1,200 plants. The collected records varied greatly, with some institutions providing detailed spreadsheets while others submitted informal handwritten notes. The study revealed that a significant portion—24 percent—of the observed plants were clones, while 27 percent were crosses between genetically related individuals.

Most exchanges of plant material occurred within the same continent, citing a mere 24 out of 579 recorded transactions as intercontinental. DNA sequencing of 65 titan arum samples reaffirmed the initial findings of low genetic diversity. The results highlight the urgent need for standardized recordkeeping practices among botanic gardens, as well as collaborative efforts to protect this iconic plant.

According to horticulturist Stephen Jones, who was not part of this research, the findings are a clarion call to action: “We’d prefer that this study found that we’ve got all these detailed records and incredibly diverse ex situ collection worldwide, but that’s not the case. So, we’ve got work to do. That’s just fine; now we understand more about what that work is.”

A case study for other endangered plants

Titan arum primarily grows in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, and can reach heights of 10 to 12 feet. The plants have evolved remarkable strategies for reproduction, including emitting a strong odor to lure pollinators such as flies and beetles. Their rare blooms occur infrequently and for only a short duration, which heightens their vulnerability.

The Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari first documented the corpse flower in 1878. Since then, the species has been transported to various global institutions, yet their populations in the wild have drastically decreased over the past century and a half due to habitat loss, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species. Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified titan arum as “endangered.”

Conservation of corpse flowers within botanic gardens presents unique challenges. Unlike other plants, their seeds are unable to germinate after drying, preventing storage in seed banks. Additionally, synchronization between male and female blooms is often lacking, necessitating direct intervention by caretakers for successful pollination. The fleeting viability of female flowers further complicates these efforts, as timing becomes a critical factor—yet the urgency may lead to reliance on closely related genetic material, thereby increasing rates of inbreeding.

The issues observed with corpse flowers may extend beyond this particular species. Murrell is currently examining similar conservation concerns with tropical carnivorous pitcher plants, indicating that recordkeeping inadequacies may be widespread across botanical collections. She notes, “With the knowledge that we gained from the corpse flowers, we can extrapolate these methods to other endangered species in living collections.”

Due to the public’s fascination with corpse flowers, they also serve as an effective case study for emphasizing the importance of plant conservation. Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, commented that studying such iconic species is crucial in raising awareness about the broader necessity of all plant conservation efforts. “These iconic species can become the ‘pandas’ of the plant world—highlighting the importance of plants to our own survival and the desperate need to protect them from the biodiversity extinction crisis currently underway all around the world,” he explained.

Drawing inspiration from zoos

The deficiencies in recordkeeping surrounding corpse flowers stem partly from the botanical community’s historical lag in data management practices, as compared to the zoological sector. However, advancements are being made, according to Jones, who drew comparisons to zoos that systematically track genetic information across animal species.

New technologies are being deployed to enhance data sharing and tracking across botanical institutions, with increasing collaboration on conservation projects. Efforts are underway to create a centralized “studbook” database for corpse flowers, allowing for better management of genetic diversity. There are plans for the U.S. Botanic Garden to host a conservation gathering focused on corpse flower preservation later this year.

Jones emphasized the need for a collective approach in conserving this species, stating, “It’s going to take botanic gardens to give conservation a chance with a plant like this. And it’s going to take numerous botanic gardens working together… If [titan arum] were to ever go extinct in the wild, the botanical collections would become immensely important, as they would be the last hope for reintroduction.”

This holistic understanding of the genetic make-up of the species will be crucial in any future reintroduction efforts, underscoring the importance of rigorous recordkeeping practices.

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