Clinging Skybloom

This colossal flower grows up to 12.2 feet (3.7 meters) tall. Its beige or sky blue stems grow in bunches of 8 and are very thin and straight, and the giant, black or purple leaves are brown on the underside and are sickle shaped with ripped edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves alternate on the stem from about halfway up, up to the flower head.

5 to 10 large flowers grow on alternate sides up the length of the stem. The flowers are 65 cm (25.6 inches) wide, with petals that are either olive or cyan, with a yellow center. The flower head is shaped like a cube with 54 widely spaced, narrow petals. They are very delicate.

It has a mildly strong scent that smells like mango, and it has a modest amount of pollen; it does not cause any allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind, but is also visited by one species of insect in particular.