A Rare Corpse Flower Bloom Is Happening Right Now, And You Can See It Live

Amorphophallus titanum is one of the rarest flowers you could see blooming in the entire world. It grows only in a very narrow range in Sumatra, and, even in its wild habitat, blooms rarely, taking years to build up to a flowering. In cultivation, its blooming is an even rarer sight, and one that only lasts for two days at most. Only a handful of people in history have seen it, so if you want to witness something truly rare, get to the New York Botanical Garden now. And, uh, bring a clothespin, because boy does it stink.

Amorphophallus titanum is better known as the “corpse flower” because of the genuinely vile smell when it blooms. The idea is to attract insects that feed on rotting flesh, which is never in short supply in the Sumatran jungles, and use those to pollinate itself. And yes, “corpse flower” is hardly the most attractive name, but the corpse flower has never had any luck with humans. Its scientific name translates out to “giant misshapen penis,” and it’s generally called the “titan arum” because David Attenborough wouldn’t say “phallus” on TV.

If you want to see it, you’ll need to move quickly. It started blooming yesterday and the flower will likely only last through Saturday at the latest. If you can’t make it, or you’d rather not go inside a greenhouse with a giant flower giving off the stench of putrid meat, you can check out the New York Botanical Garden’s livestream instead.

(Via Twitter)

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