Foul-smelling flower blooming at college campuses

September 22, 2010

The so-called "corpse flower," nicknamed for its pungent odor, is drawing crowds at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the Titan Arum collection on campus has recently begun its first bloom in its nine-year life span. The flower is famous for its odor, which smells like rotten meat.

The news provider reports that the foul scent attracts its pollinators, carrion beetles and flesh flies.

The plant, which is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is currently on display in the D.C. Smith Greenhouse, according to the college's department of agriculture and life sciences.

Recently, Binghamton Pipe Dream reported that the State University of New York-Binghamton drew curious observers for a premature blooming of their Titan Arum, named Metis.

“We never thought the flower would bloom this young,” Laurie Kasperek, the greenhouse manager at Binghamton, told the news source. “A Titan Arum flower will not bloom much before eight years old. The fact that this one has at the age of five is unexpected."

Although Metis is unique for its odor, more pleasant-smelling plants are better suited as a gift. According to OrganicGardening.com, the mignonette gives off a powerful vanilla scent and the heliotrope smells like a cherry pie.

This article is brought to you by Teleflora - a leader in the flower delivery service for over 75 years. Teleflora helps its customers buy flowers online and specializes in bringing the freshest available flowers for a variety of holidays and occasions - all hand-delivered in keepsake vases by the best local florists.

970662eb-2478-44da-86be-23c8d39466a0|0|.0

Add comment

Commenting Options

Enter your personal information to the left

Name*

E-mail*

Website

b i u quote

Notify me when new comments are added

comment policy