Home / Environment / Corpse Flower Stinks Up San Francisco Conservatory
Corpse Flower Stinks Up San Francisco Conservatory
26 Jun
Summary
- A rare corpse flower named Scarlet began its short bloom at a San Francisco conservatory.
- The massive flower emits a rotting meat smell to attract pollinators like beetles and flies.
- Fewer than 1,000 corpse flowers remain in their native Indonesian rainforest habitat.
The Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco recently hosted the rare blooming of a corpse flower, an event notable for its powerful, unpleasant odor. Aptly named Scarlet, the specimen only blooms for two days every three to five years, emitting a scent of rotting meat to attract flies and beetles. This strategy mimics decaying animals, encouraging these insects to pollinate the flowers. Native to Sumatra, Indonesia, the corpse flower is the largest unbranched inflorescence and can grow up to 10 feet tall.
This particular bloom is especially significant as fewer than 1,000 corpse flowers persist in their natural habitat. Habitat loss, primarily due to expanding oil palm plantations, threatens their survival. The conservatory provides information on how individuals can advocate for sustainably produced palm oil and forest conservation to protect this endangered species. The previous blooming event attracted over 7,200 visitors and a substantial online audience, highlighting the public fascination with this unique botanical phenomenon.
