Visitors to the San Francisco Institute of Flowers are about to witness the rare titan arum, or corpse flower, in bloom. The giant flowers bloom every four to five years and last only 24 to 48 hours. But that rarity can be a good thing—because when the petals unfurl, they emit a smell reminiscent of rotting flesh.
Scarlett Titan, more than two feet tall, is one of four species of titan arum grown in the greenhouse; it last bloomed in 2019. Horticulturalists at the Arboretum announced the discovery of flower buds on the plant on June 16. They believe the corpse flower will bloom sometime next week, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday.
Like most things in nature, corpse flowers have a pungent smell for good reason: it helps attract pollinators. Experts believe the plant will struggle to compete with natural pollinators such as wild bees. As a result, it has evolved a bad smell to attract insects such as flies, beetles, and wasps that feed on animal carcasses. The stench attracts unsuspecting creatures to the giant flowers filled with sticky pollen. Once this happens, the flowers wilt and the insects can escape their bodies with the pollen. The researchers don’t know how far away the insects can detect the stench. But humans can smell it from nearly a mile away.
In the wild, titan konjac can only be found in the equatorial forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. These plants can reach a height of 12 feet (365 cm) and weigh up to 170 lbs (77 kg). Many greenhouses around the world grow this giant plant. However, fewer than 1,000 flowers have bloomed since records began in 1889. It’s no wonder these foul-smelling blooms cause such excitement when they open.
Scarlett Titan, more than two feet tall, is one of four species of titan arum grown in the greenhouse; it last bloomed in 2019. Horticulturalists at the Arboretum announced the discovery of flower buds on the plant on June 16. They believe the corpse flower will bloom sometime next week, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday.
Like most things in nature, corpse flowers have a pungent smell for good reason: it helps attract pollinators. Experts believe the plant will struggle to compete with natural pollinators such as wild bees. As a result, it has evolved a bad smell to attract insects such as flies, beetles, and wasps that feed on animal carcasses. The stench attracts unsuspecting creatures to the giant flowers filled with sticky pollen. Once this happens, the flowers wilt and the insects can escape their bodies with the pollen. The researchers don’t know how far away the insects can detect the stench. But humans can smell it from nearly a mile away.
In the wild, titan konjac can only be found in the equatorial forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. These plants can reach a height of 12 feet (365 cm) and weigh up to 170 lbs (77 kg). Many greenhouses around the world grow this giant plant. However, fewer than 1,000 flowers have bloomed since records began in 1889. It’s no wonder these foul-smelling blooms cause such excitement when they open.
