ABSTRACT:

The Asian species Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. ex Arcang. can be considered one of the most spectacular flowering species ever cultivated and it is considered a real treasure for any Botanic Garden. Since its discovery in 1879, it has flowered approximately one hundred times in conservatories, but almost exclusively in Europe, North America and Asia. In December 2010, a ten years old (and 13 kg) tuber of Amorphophallus titanum flowered for the flrst time in Latin America, at the recently founded Jardim Botanico Inhotim. The inflorescence reached 1.78 m tall and the blooming event attracted approximately 1,500 people. The objective of this article is to describe the first flowering of this amazing species in Latin America and comment its social impact locally.