Corpse Flower in Bloom

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By Justine Judge

Story Published: Jul 21, 2008 at 7:17 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 21, 2008 at 7:17 PM EDT

Far from it's native land in Sumatra, The Titan Arum, otherwise known as the Corpse Flower, sits in full bloom at Smith College. It's a rare sight as the endangered species has only flowered infrequently in the U.S. The flower has one of the largest blooms in the plant kingdom and possibly, one of the worst smelling.

Michael Marcotrigiano says, "This morning it really smelled like a corpse but the smell has gone away, it may come back tonight because it has episodes of smell."

Which people can't seem to get enough of.

Lisa Sotak says, "I was hoping to experience the fabulous legendary stinky smell that it is known for but unfortunately is not smelling at this moment."

Diane Fabig says, "I have to come back tomorrow so I can smell it, I guess it only stinks a few hours early in the morning."

And there's a reason for the smell.

Marcotrigiano says, "It attracts meat eating beetles and that's why the petals look like red meat, it's sort of a lure so that these beetles come in thinking they are going to get something to eat and instead they get pollen which they spread to another flower and then pollinate it."

This is the second time the flower has bloomed in Northampton, and this year, it's much bigger. The flower weighs 53 pounds and it's still growing. Some corpse flowers make it to 200 pounds and 12 feet high.

Sotak says, "Very bizarre and prehistoric looking, like another world."

The bloom of the corpse flower is very short lived. In fact, Botanic Garden says Tuesday will most likely be it's last day.

If you can't make it out to Smith College to see the flower in person, you can monitor it on-line. Botanic Garden has set up a web cam aimed directly at the flower.

http://www.smith.edu/gardens/Conservatory/amorphophallus-web-cam.html

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