Corpse Bloom
It's been 2 years, which means it's once again time.......
The corpse flower at Eastern Illinois University is gonna bloom!
When fully open, the inflorescence produces a "rotting-fish-burnt-sugar" scent. The odor is strongest at night and attracts carrion beetles and flies which serve as pollinators. Additionally, the tip of the spadix warms up to approximately the temperature of the human body. This heating is thought to assist in dispersing the scent. After three to five days the spadix collapses. The spathe falls off and the fruit mature if there has been successful pollination. The poisonous ripe fruit are bright orange-red, about the size of cherries and are attractive to birds. Birds eat the fruit and disperse the seeds.
I've never seen it or smelled it, but it is apparently one nasty-smelling flower.
More from the EIU Greenhouse:
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt
