If you’ve never had the experience of being in the presence of a blooming Corpse Plant, you’re definitely missing out on a unique experience.
Is it smelly? Absolutely. Like really, really smelly? Yes, 100%. But is it also incredibly cool and interesting? Yep!
Also known as the titan arum or Amorphophallus titanum, this remarkable plant is famous for its size, striking appearance, and a rather unusual scent.
First things first, corpse plants are renowned for their gigantic size. In fact, they hold the record for having the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world! Imagine a flower that can reach heights of up to 10 feet (3 meters) or more—now that’s impressive!
But what really makes corpse plants stand out is their smell. Brace yourself, because it’s not for the faint of heart. When a corpse plant blooms, it emits a putrid odor akin to rotting flesh.
Yes, you heard that right! It’s nature’s way of attracting pollinators like carrion beetles and flies, which are fooled into thinking they’ve found a decaying animal to lay their eggs on. Clever, isn’t it?
Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, corpse plants are a rare sight to behold. They bloom infrequently and unpredictably, sometimes only once every several years. When they do, the bloom lasts for just a few days, making it a truly remarkable event for botanists and enthusiasts alike.
At Franklin Park Conservatory, one of their smaller (but still impressively large) Corpse Plants began blooming yesterday afternoon. If you’re hoping to get a whiff of the iconic plant, you’ll want to visit the Conservatory sometime today.
Franklin Park Conservatory is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info, please visit fpconservatory.org.
Featured image via Facebook.
