OSU’s Stinky Corpse Flower Blossoms for the Second Time; Third One Set to Bloom Soon
ByOhio State University greenhouse researchers' patience has been finally rewarded. The rainforest plant, otherwise known as a corpse flower, has bloomed for the second time, Tuesday, releasing another round of rotting-flesh smell after more than two years since it first blossomed.
The plant, which is famous for its unpleasant odor, is a 6-foot rare titan arum with bold, reddish-purple color. Its first flowering attracted around 6,000 visitors.
This plant is named Woody after Buckeyes football coach Woody Hayes.
Describing the filthy odour from the plant, Joan Leonard, the greenhouse coordinator said that it smells like a mix of corpse, days-old dead animal, road kill, sauerkraut and dead fish.
The flower's malodor attracts pollinators such as flesh flies and carrion beetles.
"It can bloom maybe two or three times," Leonard said. "The soonest it can bloom after it has bloomed once is maybe two to five years after, and that's under optimal conditions. Or it may never bloom again."
Last May, a second corpse flower, Jesse, bloomed for a very short time at the greenhouse. And a third flower is expected to blossom for the first time in seven to 10 days.
Sandi Rutkowski, the university spokeswoman said that the university feels lucky to experience three flowering processes in three years and attracting visitors to catch a glimpse of the plant or catch a whiff of its smell.
These plants have a maximum lifespan of 40 years and flower maximum three times. They will remain in bloom for 24 to 48 hours and then begin to close up and starts to wither.
Researchers allege that most of these rare flowers have been destroyed by commercial agriculture and rainforest logging. The OSU greenhouse aims to maintain its population by artificially nurturing them.
Worldwide, there have been about 175 blooms since the flower was first revealed in the late 1800s.
Visiting hours are from noon to 4:30 p.m. at 332 W. 12th avenue - the top floor of a parking garage near the OSU Medical Center.