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Rare Corpse Flower Captivates Crowds with Pungent Bloom
6 Aug
Summary
- Amorphophallus titanum, known as the "corpse flower", bloomed in D.C. Botanic Garden
- Flower emits a stench similar to rotting flesh to attract pollinators
- Rare plant draws thousands of visitors to witness the unique bloom
On August 3rd, 2025, the rare Amorphophallus titanum, commonly known as the "corpse flower", began to bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. The plant, which is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is renowned for its massive size and its uncanny resemblance to the stench of rotting flesh.
As evening fell, crowds flocked to the garden to experience the rare bloom. Visitors described the flower's pungent aroma as "musty," "damp, rotten meat," and "fetid." The garden's spokesperson likened the smell to that of a "dead mouse" or something even worse. Despite the unpleasant odor, the spectacle of the giant, 7-foot-tall plant captivated the public's attention.
The corpse flower is not a single flower, but rather an inflorescence - a collection of hundreds of smaller flowers. While in bloom, the plant emits heat and releases its potent scent to attract pollinators such as beetles and flies. The endangered species is estimated to have fewer than a thousand remaining in the wild, making this bloom a rare and remarkable event.
The U.S. Botanic Garden expects thousands of visitors to witness the corpse flower's bloom, which is expected to last for two to three days before the plant collapses and begins its years-long cycle anew. The garden hopes to use this attention-grabbing spectacle to raise awareness about the importance of conservation efforts for endangered plant species.
