DENVER – The first-ever bloom of a stinky "corpse flower" in the Rocky Mountain region is happening here today (Aug. 19).
The corpse flower, or titan arum, is famous for its rare-but-enormous blossoms. Blooms usually stand about 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall. They burst open on an unpredictable cycle that can stretch for more than a decade between flowers. The plant's scientific name, Amorphophallus titanum, means "giant, misshapen penis," hinting at the appearance of this bizarre plant.
But what really makes corpse flowers famous is their stench. The plants smell like rotting flesh, all the better to attract the carrion beetles and flies that carry the flowers' pollen. Each bloom lasts only about 48 hours, after which the plant goes dormant and may not bloom again for another seven to 10 years.
The corpse flower, or titan arum, is famous for its rare-but-enormous blossoms. Blooms usually stand about 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall. They burst open on an unpredictable cycle that can stretch for more than a decade between flowers. The plant's scientific name, Amorphophallus titanum, means "giant, misshapen penis," hinting at the appearance of this bizarre plant.
But what really makes corpse flowers famous is their stench. The plants smell like rotting flesh, all the better to attract the carrion beetles and flies that carry the flowers' pollen. Each bloom lasts only about 48 hours, after which the plant goes dormant and may not bloom again for another seven to 10 years.
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