“Cadaveric Flowers” Are a Thing, and You Can Observe One Flower
I think we all agree that there are two words that do not belong together, and these are the following words: corpse and flower . And yet flowers from corpses are not only a thing , but also a gigantic thing. Amorphophallus titanum or “cadaveric flower” is a huge flower that, when blooming, exudes a smell similar to that of rotting meat. Cadaverous flowers are nature at its most intriguing, and if you’re lucky there might be one near you – there is one in almost every state. Even if you don’t, there is a way to observe one bloom over the next few days, and we recommend that you do so.
What the hell is a cadaveric flower?
Cadaverous flowers are known as the largest flowering plant in the world . It is a tropical plant native to western Sumatra, Indonesia with a life expectancy of 30-40 years. The center of the “cob” or log tube can be 15 feet high , and the leaves grow to nearly 13 feet wide. The outside is green, like any flower bulb, and the leaves (or petals) are usually dark red or burgundy. The massive flower belongs to the aracial family and is associated with smaller plants such as philodendrons, calla lilies and peaceful lilies. They also belong to the same family as skunk kale (big surprise).
They bloom on average every seven to ten years, and when they do bloom, they only bloom once a year. When the flower opens, it emits a strong pungent odor that is said to resemble rotting meat or “flesh” (hence “corpse”). Lifehacker Senior Health Editor Beth Skorecki recalls that the smell is more like “warm garbage” and compares the experience to “walking past a really ripe dumpster on a summer day.”
Why does a cadaverous flower smell like garbage?
According to information received from the treehugger planting site , the scientific name of the plant Amorphophallus titanum is ancient Greek, which translates as “giant deformed phallus”. The giant phallus is just that, it is designed to attract insects to pollinate their species. The pungent odor tempts insects such as dung beetles and meat flies, which are accustomed to feeding on dead or rotting material.
Florist Tim Pollack spoke to Live Science about the rare plant and added, “Cadaverous flowers are also capable of heating up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.7 Celsius) to trick insects even more,” which means the plant mimics a rotting human in order to survive. …
Where to find a cadaveric flower
Cadaverous flowers are an endangered species, so you probably won’t see them on a regular hike, or perhaps haven’t even heard of them before. Although rare, they are found in many states and conservatories – and name them.
The San Francisco Flower Conservatory’s Terra Titan bloomed in 2017 and again in 2020. Another cadaveric flower bloomed last month at the US Botanical Gardens in Washington, DC, and a cadaveric flower called Romero bloomed in Pittsburgh back in 2016. … While there is no dedicated cadaver flower tracking site in the United States, this Wikipedia site has a list of disclosed flowers across the country.
How to see the bloom of a cadaverous flower live
The Huntington Botanical Garden in San Marino, California is eagerly awaiting the blooming of its cadaveric flower, which was due to emerge from day to day. The flower, aptly named ” Stankosaurus Rex “, rises a staggering 82 inches in height. It is impossible to know how tall it will be when it blooms, but the staff and visitors are very excited about this momentous occasion. You can track the bloomlive at the Huntington Conservatory here .
The live stream will continue in the days leading up to the bloom and will continue throughout the bloom period, so come back periodically to see Stankosaurus Rex in all its smelly beauty.