BRONX, NEW YORK − While we normally think of flowers as sweet-smelling, there are also flowers that are on the complete opposite spectrum such “armorphophallus titanum,” also known as a “corpse flower.” The corpse flower received its named because of its unpleasant (to put it nicely 🙂 scent. Many describe the corpse flower smell to “rotting flesh” or a “decaying carcass.”
While this flower doesn’t sound very pleasant, it is very popular because of its rarity and because of the time it takes to bloom. It has been nearly 80 years since the corpse flower last bloomed at the New York Botanical Gardens. Given the long wait, the flower may only last for just one or two days.
While relatively unpredictable, the New York Botanical Garden’s corpse flower is said to be only “seconds away from blooming.” For those that don’t want to brave the stench or are not in the area, the flower is being live-streamed on the NYBG website. This giant flower can grow to be 8 feet high and opens up to a red interior when in bloom. The odor is said to attract pollinators, such as flies, which love the rotting odor as a place to lay their eggs.
So, will you be watching the corpse flower cam to see it bloom?
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