Update: The corpse flower is blooming and should last until about 10 p.m. Watch live here.
Update: "Wally" the corpse flower is starting to open! Should bloom fully in next 6 hours. https://t.co/fZ90SwkVjC pic.twitter.com/QqJDDOco7I
— Indiana University Bloomington (@IUBloomington) July 29, 2016
Original:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A rare plant, known as the smelliest flower on earth, is expected to bloom at Indiana University Bloomington soon.
The Amorphophallus titanium is commonly known as the “corpse flower,” because it produces the odor of a rotting animal for a short period of time while in bloom.
IU’s smelly plant, nicknamed Wally, resides in the Jordan Hall greenhouse, but the plant is native to the rain forests of Indonesia, according to the greenhouse supervisor, John Lemon. It was donated to IU by the former director of the Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, Greg Speichert.
Today's corpse flower update: "Wally" is over 6 feet tall! Will it bloom tonight? Live cam: https://t.co/fZ90SwkVjC pic.twitter.com/2X9pRiwa8B
— Indiana University Bloomington (@IUBloomington) July 27, 2016
It takes 8 to 20 years for the “corpse flower” to produce its first bloom. It then flowers around every three years if conditions are right, but blooms lasts only 24 to 36 hours.
If you’re interested in seeing the plant bloom, but don’t necessarily want to smell it, you’re in luck. The university has set up a live feed to catch Wally bloom.
