This plant is famous for its stink. Like a fine cheese, the more foul the better, I guess?
A corpse flower is one of the largest blossoms on earth. It’s also among the briefest — it lasts 24 to 48 hours. And its bloom is rare: It happens once a year at most.
Titan VanCough — as the students of Washington State University Vancouver have named the corpse flower — has bloomed just two times. (Titan arum is the scientific name of the plant.)
The local corpse flower is a point of curiosity on all those fronts — and of course, because it stinks so much it’s named for a dead body.
Washington State University has given it its own live cam. Which is useful for checking for updates: It’s expected to bloom this week or next.
The corpse plant is native to Indonesia, but the local flower originated from the Midwest. A WSU prof planted the seeds for fun (not research) after getting some from University of Wisconsin-Madison’s affectionately named Big Bucky corpse flower. It grew in a pot on his desk until it got too big.
The WSU building will be open to the public during the bloom, though expect lines when the stink is in full swing.
It’s just a little odd we’re into B.O. when it’s exotic. Of course, roses, lilies, and peonies are among the flowers prized for their sweet smell. But I can’t think of another plant that’s celebrated for its stink. Can you?
