What is a corpse flower? Foul-smelling plant blooming in NYC
Published 11:03 am Friday, July 29, 2016
- What is a corpse flower? Hint: It is big and smells bad. (AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — A foul smelling plant known as the “corpse flower” is finally blooming at the New York Botanical Garden in New York City.
The rare blooming began Thursday afternoon after more than 10 years of growth. It’s native to Sumatra’s equatorial rain forests, and emits an odor like rotting flesh while it’s briefly in bloom.
It’s one of the largest flowers on earth and can reach 6 feet in height. It emits the stench to attract pollinators.
The bloom at its peak only lasts about 24 to 36 hours — and it could be years before the flower blooms again.