Titan III

(Details about viewing, access, parking and bus transportation)

Those who missed seeing Little Stinker yesterday have had another opportunity today (Friday, Aug. 6). The Botany Greenhouse will remain open until 8 o'clock tonight so that visitors can get a last look at its bloom, which began fading late this afternoon. The beautifully ruffled spathe unfurled sometime between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning and has remained open for more than 33 hours. Because the end of the bloom is near, the greenhouse will not be open this weekend.

For the past couple of weeks, Little Stinker had been on display in the lobby of Birge Hall, where conditions were cool and dry and appeared to be impeding the plant's progress. Consequently, on Tuesday the decision was made to move it to the Botany Greenhouse. It was also given hormone treatments in the form of ethylene gas to encourage its bloom. UW-Madison's previous two Titans (2001 and 2002) were located in the greenhouse, where there is considerably more heat and humidity.

Latest measurements of "Little Stinker"

Where is it located?
In Botany Greenhouse #8 on the lower level of Birge Hall, which is just below and to the left of Bascom Hall as you are walking up Bascom Hill. If you are coming from Charter Street, it will be to the right of Bascom Hall. If you are coming from University Avenue, look for it just above the newly renovated Botany Garden.

Viewing hours
9 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday Aug. 5 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday Aug. 6

Parking
Two-hour metered parking is available in parking area 6 under the Helen C. White College Library, located at the end of North Park Street across from the Memorial Union. Area 7 at Grainger Hall may also have metered parking available. The entrance to that ramp is on North Brooks Street. The city's Lake Street ramp is another option, and metered stalls on campus-area streets can be found from time to time.

After 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday, a number of university lots are free and open to the general public. Complete information on available lots can be found online. Look for Type X lots. Free parking does not include restricted areas such as driveways and aisles, reserved stalls, disabled stalls, loading zones, construction areas or lots being used for Special Events.

Bus service
The campus bus (Route 80) is free and runs approximately every 15 minutes on weekdays and less frequently on weekends. Complete campus route information is available at Madison Metro's Web site..

Photography
Visitors are welcome to take photos of the Titan arum or to videotape it for their own personal use.

(Updated on 8/6/04)

Little Stinker
View larger version

Illustration: Kandis Elliot

This illustration shows Titan Arum in bud, left, and full bloom, center. At the base of the spadix (the fleshy central column) are over a thousand tiny flowers. If pollinated, these flowers will produce a huge ball of bright red berries, right.

Visitors gather to view the 98-inch-tall Titan Arum nicknamed "Big Bucky," which bloomed June 9, 2005.
Photo by: Michael Forster Rothbart

Illustration: Kandis Elliot

This illustration shows Titan Arum in bud, left, and full bloom, center. At the base of the spadix (the fleshy central column) are over a thousand tiny flowers. If pollinated, these flowers will produce a huge ball of bright red berries, right.

File last updated: July 20, 2005
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