There's More to a Titan Than You Would Expect

10 and 4 ish

The top picture was taken around 10 a.m. The spathe is still full out at this point and looking in good shape. The bottom picture was taken a little after 4 p.m. As you can see, the spathe has started to close. The edges of the spathe are a darker color, confirming it's continuing decline.

Time Lapse of Titan #3 Opening

This is a great time lapse video of Titan #3 opening. It was put together by Teresa Of WIU's University Relations Office.

Texture and Color

From Above

Greenhouse Open

The greenhouse is open now this morning for anyone wanting to stop by. It will be open today until 4:30 or so.

Doing Fly and Beetle Work

This picture is of the female flowers. If you were watching the live feed you would have seen me around 6 p.m. dusting a little pollen on them. The yellow specs are the pollen. When Titan #1 bloomed in May, I collected it's pollen for future use. Of course as always, for a bigger image just click on the picture.

Fully Open

When the spathe fully opened, it measured 44 inches across. The angle of this picture is from above, about where the live video camera is located. If you watched or are still watching the live feed, this will give you some idea of the overall size as approximately half the spadix is not seen in the live feed.

Titan #3 is Opening!

Titan #3 is in the process of opening this afternoon. It will be fully open by 8-9 p.m. The greenhouse will be open at least until midnight for everyone to stop by and check it out.

If you can't see Titan #3 in person, follow it on the LIVE! Video Feed.

Is Today the Day?

Is today the day Titan #3 opens? When I opened the door to the Propagation Room where the titan is located, there was a perceivable odor. It was not very strong but just noticeable. Again, if it decides to open today, we will know somewhere between 1 - 3 p.m. The greenhouse is open usual hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The day the titan opens, I will have the greenhouse open at least until midnight. If it is at all possible, you should stop by the greenhouse and see the titan in person. The pictures in this blog and the live feed are good but really do not do it justice.

Titan #3 measured at 79 and 3/4 inches this morning. The circumference was 39 and 3/4".

Another Cool Time Lapse Video

Another video from Teresa of WIU's University Relations Office showing time lapse photos of Titan #3.

Last Bract Fell

Last night, the last bract fell on Titan #3. It should open either today or tomorrow. When it decides to open, it will start in the afternoon, sometime between 1 and 3 p.m. and then be fully open by 8 or 9 p.m.

The daily growth has slowed significantly to only 1 and 5/8 inches for the past 24 hours. This is another sign that it will open very soon.

One More Bract

As you can see in the picture, there is only one bract left to fall away as the one on the left side of the inflorescence fell last night. I expect the remaining bract to fall today or tonight. We should then expect this titan to open Monday or Tuesday.

The daily growth slowed for a fourth day now. The list to the right documents that trend.

The greenhouse will be open today from 1 - 6 p.m. for anyone that wants to check the titan out.

When Titan #3 opens, I will post that alert here as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Oh and I'll be off and on the Live Feed chat feature.

Six Feet Tall

The daily growth rate for Titan #3 continues to decline for a third straight day. It only put on another 4 and 1/8 inches of height; however, it did exceed the six foot mark. Titan #2 has added another 1 and 1/8 inches in the past 24 hours. That is the fourth day now it has grown and inch or better.

I still believe the opening is 2 to 3 days away. Some of the smaller bracts have turned brown but the two largest bracts are still holding on pretty good. Steven at EIU says when the last bract falls, the bloom will open in 1 -2 days.

#2 on the Move?

Titan #2 has kicked out a little growth spurt. It has put on an inch to an inch and one-eighth of new height each day for the past three days.

Getting Closer

The daily growth of Titan #3 has slowed for the second day now. When it was measured this morning, it had only added 4 and 5/8 inches of height in the past 24 hours. I still think it may be 3 to 5 days before it opens, but then I was off on predicting when Titan #1 was going to open.

Rotated

This morning, I rotated Titan #3 so it's spath would face the live feed camera. This picture is that view. It measured 64 inches tall this morning. That is another 5 inches of height.

Also, in the picture, you may notice a white stick with 2 black lines on it. The lines are one foot and two foot from the top of the stick. I thought this may aid everyone in getting some perspective on the titan's size.

A Little Early

This is a picture taken yesterday of Titan #2.

Video with Time Lapse

This is a video put together by Teresa in University Relations.

Front and Back

A little something different for the picture this morning. The left side is the view of Titan #3 from the same angle as the live video feed camera. The right side of the picture is the side facing away from the live video feed camera.

The height of Titan #3 was measured at 59 inches this morning. It has now passed the height that Titan #1 achieved in May.

Twitter and Facebook

I've added Twitter and Facebook links, see the list to the right.

Live Video Feed Back

The internet connection to the greenhouse is back. Live video feed is up on Ustream. I raised the camera so the view is at a different angle than before.

Partial Internet restored

Titan #3 is 5 and 5/8 inches taller when measured this morning. Up to 53 and 1/8 inches. Internet in Waggoner Hall working so I can update this, however, internet connection for the live feed from the greenhouse still not up. I raised the camera for the live feed, so angle of view will be a little different.

Internet Down

This morning there is no internet at school. I assume due to the storm that past through last night. Will update this and also get live feed back online when internet is restored.

Welcome to Summer

With this being the first day of summer, Titan #3 decided to put a little more growth on over the past 24 hours. It measured 47 and 1/2 inches in height this morning. That is 5 and 1/4 inches over yesterday's measurement. I guess the heat and humidity of our Illinois summer agrees with it.

Four More

During the past 24 hours, Titan #3 grew another 4 inches. This one definitely looks to be on track to be bigger than Titan #1 inflorescence from May of this year.

Getting With The Program

Titan #3 measured 34 and 1/4 inches tall this morning. That's an increase in height of 4 and 1/4" for the past 24 hours. Check the Daily Growth List to the right and you'll see this is doubled what it has been doing. Spathe and spadix are more exposed this morning.

Spathe Peeks Out

I guess putting the live video on ustream yesterday helped to reveal that this is an inflorescence and not a leaf. Pulling the bract back a little, shows more of the spathe and then a little of the spadix too.

LIVE Video Feed!

UTech came through and installed a wireless bridge in the greenhouse, so now I can stream live video of Titan #3.

Check it out at... http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wiu-corpse-flower

Wed June 16th Titan #3 Update

Titan #3 continues to grow for the past several days at a rate of 2 to 2.5 inches per day.

Daily Growth Change List

On the right and just below About Me, I have added a list that shows the daily height and growth change for Titan #3.

#3 Shoots Ahead

Since the last post, Titan #3 has more than doubled in height, surpassing #2. #3 was measured to be 18 and 1/2 inches this morning while #2 was at 11 and 3/4 inches. The shapes of the buds are still quite different, plus #3 has a crook at it's peak now. I'm still thinking #3 will be a bloom but again, still too early to know for sure.

WIU Titan #2 & #3

As you can see, Titans #2 & #3 are growing. Titan #2 was measured to be 8 and 7/8 inches and Titan #3 was at 9 and 1/8 inches this morning. If you compare the shapes of the two buds, you can see a difference. Does this indicate anything? I'm inclined to think #2 is a leaf bud and #3 is an inflorescence bud; however, it really is way too early to call.

EIU Titan to Bloom

The Titan that is located in the Thut Greenhouse at Eastern Illinois University is in the process of blooming. This is the second bloom for this plant.

Follow "The Velvet Queen's" second bloom on;

Steven's Blog, Twitter and live.