Like everything in nature, there is a reason for this heat production. Their increased temperature spreads their flowers’ pungent smell to attract pollinating insects; in this case, beetles and flies. The heat also helps increase the activity of pollinators while they remain in the floral chamber.

Once visited by beetles and flies, the spadix flowers receive the pollen brought from another plant, thus completing the fertilization. At the same time, the pollinators get the pollen from the plant visited and take it to a third plant. That is called cross-fertilization, and its purpose is to mix the genes of plants from the same species.

Gene crossing is so important for species that it has led to the evolution of bizarre mechanisms like thermogenesis. Much more common, but in no way less fantastic, are the shapes, colors, and fragrances developed by most flowers to attract pollinators (bees, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even bats). Emiatá, Mura’s beautiful fire flower, seems to have combined all floral qualities: beauty, perfume, and heat.