Plant Science Conversations: Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) Conservation and Pollen Banking (Online Discussion)

Jeremy Foster, Pollen Bank Manager at Chicago Botanic Garden, Stephen Jones USBG Gardener Supervisor, Collections, and Dr. Susan Pell, Director of U.S. Botanic Garden
Best known for its towering bloom and unforgettable odor, the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is one of the world's most remarkable – and vulnerable – plants. Join USBG Executive Director Dr. Susan Pell in conversation with Jeremy Foster and Steve Jones as they explore how cross-garden collaboration, plant science, and conservation technologies are helping to ensure this botanical giant's future.

Jeremy Foster

Pollen Bank Manager

Chicago Botanic Garden

Jeremy Foster is the pollen bank manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where he studies and stores pollen from several groups of endangered plants, including cycads, orchids, and oaks. Prior to this position, he completed his master’s in plant biology and con...(read more)

Stephen Jones

Gardener Supervisor, Collections Section

U.S. Botanic Garden

Stephen Jones is the Gardener Supervisor for the Collections Section at the United States Botanic Garden. His team cares for all collections held by the Garden, including the Amorphophallus collection, the Garden’s collection of corpse flowers. Additionally, S...(read more)

Dr. Susan Pell

Executive Director

U.S. Botanic Garden

Dr. Susan Pell is a botanist, educator, and the Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden. Susan has traveled the world collecting plants for scientific study. Her research has focused on the Anacardiaceae family which includes cashews, sumac, and...(read more)