This week’s flowertography comes from the 3 distinct trips I made to see Stink Floyd. You don’t know Stink Floyd? Stink Floyd was a corpse flower at Reiman Gardens that bloomed in May.
Here are some facts about Stink Floyd from the Reiman Gardens website:
Origins
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is an endangered plant. It originates from the rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated that fewer than 200 plants remain in the wild. This specific corpse flower is on loan to us from Iowa State University’s Bessey Greenhouse, under the care of Kenny McCabe.
Highlights
- Blooms up to 10 feet tall
- Rare blooming cycle: Blooms once every 7-10 years on average for the first bloom, then every 4-5 years following.
- It is estimated that fewer than 10 corpse plants bloom in the United States each year.
- Corpse plants live 30-40 years on average.
- Its bloom smells like rotting flesh. The bloom (and stench) last for only 24-48 hours. The odor can be detected up to one-tenth of a mile away when raised outdoors.
- For a life cycle of the corpse plant, click here.
What Makes it Smell?
The odor of the corpse plant is created by a scientific process known as thermogenesis. The bloom produces heat (upwards of 100 degrees), which creates a chemical reaction. The chemicals present in the smell are similar to those found in Limburger cheese, rotting fish, feces, and a decomposing body. The smell attracts pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies, which carry out the pollination process.
Why Does It Only Bloom Every 7-10 Years?
The corpse plant has a non-regular bloom cycle, unlike most other plants, making the bloom a rare and exciting event. The reason for its unpredictability is that the plant has to store up sufficient energy to shoot forth its tall spadix and bloom. Its energy is stored in the plant’s tuber (base), which typically weighs about 100 pounds. It’s kind of like a volcano–you never know when it will erupt.
https://reimangardens.com/stink-floyd-corpse-plant
Here are some pictures:
Next Thursday’s flowertography session will involve flowers from my yard!
Jon and I know the red-haired guy in your first crowd shot; Jon used to work with him at Greeley, and now he lives down in our neighborhood.
I’m still bummed we didn’t make it, but also have heard from multiple sources that it wasn’t worth the line.
Yeah, lot of people out there that hate flowers.