No, this isn’t an adventure seed: it’s a titan arum blooming.
“Jack” the titan arum is now blooming! View tonight from 9pm-1am (enter through Linnean Gate) or Sunday 9am-5pm. pic.twitter.com/v3jBmwv0UQ
— MO Botanical Garden (@mobotgarden) July 17, 2016
They call it a corpse flower because that’s how it smells. They don’t bloom very often – like, years – but thanks to the marvels of the Internet, you can watch it bloom live in Denver. Because SCIENCE!
Hey, we have to have something to look forward to, now that Sharknado has come and gone.
Live Video app for Facebook by Ustream
The magic of the titan arum comes from its great size – it is reputed to have the largest known unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom. Referred to as the corpse flower or stinky plant, its putrid smell is most potent during peak bloom at night into the early morning. The odor is often compared to the stench of rotting flesh. The inflorescence also generates heat, which allows the stench to travel further. This combination of heat and smell efficiently attracts pollinators, such as dung and carrion beetles, from across long distances.
