“Warm blooded” plants

Thermogenic plants have the ability to raise their temperature above that of the surrounding air. They can generate their own heat and flower earlier in the season than almost any other plant.  Botanists are not completely sure why thermogenic plants generate large amounts of excess heat, but most suspect the flowers may be doing this to attract coldblooded insect pollinators. Thermogenic plants are found in a variety of families, but Araceae in particular contains many such species. Here’s some examples.

Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly known as skunk cabbage, is a low growing plant that grows in wetlands and moist hill slopes of eastern North America. Bruised leaves present a fragrance reminiscent of skunk.

Skunk-cabbage in snow – Photo via Ryan Johnson/Flickr

By Sue Sweeney. – The Monday Garden. Archived at http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=158, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Skunk Cabbage peeking through the snow – Photo by John Winkelman/Flickr

Skunk Cabbage through snow – Photo by Justin Meissen/Flickr

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Helicodiceros muscivorus, the dead horse arum lily, is an ornamental plant native to Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands. Its flowers smell like rotting meat, attracting carrion-seeking blow flies which act as pollinators.

By Göteborgs botaniska trädgård (photographer: Ingemar Johansson) – http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/goteborgs_botaniska_tradgard/image/view/dracunculus-muscivorus-128973, CC BY 3.0, Link

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Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the elephant foot yam or whitespot giant arum, is a tropical tuber crop grown primarily in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the tropical Pacific islands. The plant blooms annually around the beginning of the rainy season. The flower bud emerges from the corm as a purple shoot. While the flowers are in bloom they also produce heat. They die after five days.

By J A ForbesOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

By J A ForbesOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

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Nelumbo nucifera is also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus, Egyptian bean or simply lotus. Researchers report that the lotus has the remarkable ability to regulate the temperature of its flowers to within a narrow range just as humans and other warmblooded animals do.

By T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

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Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and  blow flies.

By Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
{"cc_re__cc_re__cc_by_3_0": ["-lily1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/dead-horse-arum-lily1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\"   /></a><small>By G\u00f6teborgs botaniska tr\u00e4dg\u00e5rd (photographer: Ingemar Johansson) &#8211; <a class=\"external free\" href=\"http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/goteborgs_botaniska_tradgard/image/view/dracunculus-muscivorus-128973\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/goteborgs_botaniska_tradgard/image/view/dracunculus-muscivorus-128973</a>, <a title=\"Creative Commons Attribution 3.0\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0\">CC BY 3.0</a>, <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19265330\">Link</a></small></p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">.</p>\n<p>Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the <strong>elephant foot yam</strong> or whitespot giant arum, is a tropical tuber crop grown primarily in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the tropical Pacific islands. The plant blooms annually around the beginning of the rainy season. The flower bud emerges from the corm as a purple shoot. While the flowers are in bl"], "cc_re__cc_re__cc_by_sa_3_0": ["ordpress.com/2019/09/skunk-cabbage2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/skunk-cabbage2.jpg?w=300 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"   /></a><small>By Sue Sweeney. &#8211; <a class=\"external text\" href=\"http://inmygarden.bubbanfriends.org/\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Monday Garden</a>. Archived at <a class=\"external free\" href=\"http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=158\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=158</a>, <a title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0\" href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98779\">Link</a></small></p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><a href=\"https://emorfes.com/2019/09/27/warm-blooded-plants/skunk-cabbage3/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-31657\"><img data-attachment-id=\"31657\" data-permalink=\"https://emorfes.com/2019/09/27/warm-blooded-plants/skunk-cabbage3/\" data-orig-file=\"https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/skunk-cabbage3.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"640,480\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta", "=\"https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/lotus.jpg?w=685 685w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/lotus.jpg?w=150 150w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/lotus.jpg?w=300 300w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/lotus.jpg?w=768 768w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/lotus.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\"   /></a><small>By <a title=\"User:Teacoolish\" href=\"Teacoolish\">T.Voekler</a> &#8211; <span class=\"int-own-work\" lang=\"en\">Own work</span>, <a title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8142220\">Link</a></small></p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">.</p>\n<p>Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the <strong>titan arum</strong>, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attrac"], "cc_re__cc_re__cc_by_sa_4_0": ["ant-foot-yam1.jpg?w=84 84w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam1.jpg?w=169 169w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\"   /></a><small>By <a class=\"new\" title=\"User:J A Forbes (page does not exist)\" href=\"J_A_Forbes&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">J A Forbes</a> &#8211; <span class=\"int-own-work\" lang=\"en\">Own work</span>, <a title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50429658\">Link</a></small></p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><a href=\"https://emorfes.com/2019/09/27/warm-blooded-plants/elephant-foot-yam2/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-31653\"><img data-attachment-id=\"31653\" data-permalink=\"https://emorfes.com/2019/09/27/warm-blooded-plants/elephant-foot-yam2/\" data-orig-file=\"https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"640,1136\" data-comments-opened=\"1\"", "am2.jpg?w=685\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam2.jpg 640w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam2.jpg?w=85 85w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/elephant-foot-yam2.jpg?w=169 169w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"   /></a><small>By <a class=\"new\" title=\"User:J A Forbes (page does not exist)\" href=\"J_A_Forbes&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">J A Forbes</a> &#8211; <span class=\"int-own-work\" lang=\"en\">Own work</span>, <a title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50429656\">Link</a></small></p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">.</p>\n<p>Nelumbo nucifera is also known as <strong>Indian lotus</strong>, sacred lotus, Egyptian bean or simply lotus. Researchers report that the lotus has the remarkable ability to regulate the temperature of its flowers to within a narrow range just as humans and other warmblooded animals do.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><a href=\"https://emorfes.com/2019", "com/2019/09/titan-arum1.jpg?w=105 105w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/titan-arum1.jpg?w=210 210w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/titan-arum1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://morfis.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/titan-arum1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\"   /></a><small>By <a class=\"new\" title=\"User:Sailing moose (page does not exist)\" href=\"Sailing_moose&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">Sailing moose</a> &#8211; <span class=\"int-own-work\" lang=\"en\">Own work</span>, <a title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0\" href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, <a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70296828\">Link</a></small></p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div id=\"simple-translate\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"simple-translate-button \" style=\"height:22px;width:22px;top:10px;left:10px;\"></div>\n<div class=\"simple-translate-panel \" style=\"width:300px;height:200px;top:0;left:0;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;\">\n<div class=\"simple-translate-result-wrapper\" style=\"overflow:hidden;\">\n<p class=\"simple-translate-candidate\""], "copyright__copyright__copyright": ["als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link", "als do.\n\nBy T.VoeklerOwn work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link\n\n.\n\nAmorphophallus titanum, also known as the titan arum, is endemic to Sumatra. Due to its odor, which is like the smell of a rotting corpse, the titan arum is also known as the corpse flower or corpse plant. Through a series of chemical reactions, the central spadix of the plant heats up to emit and distribute an atrocious stench to attract pollinators, thought to be carrion beetles and\u00a0 blow flies.\n\nBy Sailing mooseOwn work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link"]}