Perry, his/her entourage, and her/his groupies can now be yours via live streaming video (with audio!) via the Internet. This is a beta version, so please be patient if an occasional glitch occurs.
Links:
live streaming video with audio
three webcams (distant, top-down, and close) and Titan Arum web page
I love watching Perry’s progress while I’m at work. I even spotted my son in there this morning!
I’m curious, though, about the pink phallic-looking thing people keep carrying around and putting in the pot. What is it? and why?
Lisa,
It’s a prop that one of our professors made to show people what the flower looks like on the inside, since we can’t very well peel our own open to show people.
Lisa,
To expand on your inquiry – Dr. Cindy Johnson-Groh, our botanist, made the model quickly, since our flowering event is developing rapidly – it’s a prototype, so is not an exact representation of the inflorescence, nor could it be (just look at the webcam images…egad…). The faux spathe (secured to the faux spadix with Velcro) peels back to show the female flower area at the base and the male flower area just above that. I think that it’s an excellent representation of how the inflorescence works.
One thing that’s missing is the fragrance – that will be emitted by the real plant from the top of the spadix. The upper part of the spadix will become hot during the period of fertility, so as to volatilize the fragrance. The upper part of the spadix acts as a sort of chimney of fragrance for signaling the pollinators.
[…] was mentioned in Brian’s post, our live streaming video via ustream.tv does have some glitches but since they upgraded some […]
Are we still currently thinking Sun./Monday for public viewing versus a Saturday opening date? Perry sure is making it hard for some of us out of towners to come and admire him in all of his glory!! It’s tough to explain to jobs/ Dr. offices/ Mothers on Mother’s Day/etc. that ya gotta go see this amazing plant that smells like rotting flesh! LOL Tell Perry I think he’s charming! I’ll even bring him some cologne!
Kaley,
Right now (Saturday afternoon), we’re still thinking Sunday or Monday, but it’s still difficult to say which.
Are people from the general public able to go inside the room to view, take pictures and smell it? Or are they only allowed to view it through that window?
Lisa
Lisa,
The room will be open to the general public 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 pm on Sunday and Monday.