Friday, August 11, 2006

Those Missing Today's Bloom...


...Of the Amorphophallus titanum...

"...Native to the jungles of Sumatra, one of its nonscientific names is "corpse flower." That's because, when in bloom, it smells like a rotting dead body.

The exotic flower doesn't usually blossom in captivity. The last time it happened in the city was in 1939 in the Bronx. The Botanic Garden has been babying this one along for 10 years, and this summer, it paid off.

Late yesterday, it began to open and show its majestic purple blossom, but didn't smell. That is expected to come today with its full bloom.

When fully open, it will show a hood of leaves that span two to three feet across and dark purple flowers shaped much like calla lilies.

It will then give off the signature rotting-corpse scent, but that only lasts for eight hours after it blooms.

The odor is caused by the chemicals cadaverine and putrescine, which attract the beetles that pollinate it, according to Scot Medbury, president of the Botanic Gardens."

...Will just have to trek to Albany and await Senator Hillary Rodhams arrival to experience the same effect.

UPDATERY......

'Corpse Flower' Blooms, Ends Smelly Peak
NEW YORK (AP) - Inhale. New Yorkers can breathe easy again: The "corpse flower" has passed its smelly peak. But the plant dubbed "Baby" may soon have some of its own. It was the first time in 67 years that the odoriferous Amorphophallus titanum bloomed in New York City. The plant began blooming..


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