The Titan Arum, commonly known as the "corpse flower" for its odor, finally started to bloom Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Botanic Garden next to the Capitol and officials expect the flower to hit "peak smell" Monday.
The corpse flower or the titan arum is famously known for its foul smell , attractive to insects such as dung and carrion beetles that help in pollination. But its huge appearance with large branches presents visitors with a spectacular sight. Although, these flowering plants are native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, they can also be found in some botanical gardens. The flower was discovered in 1878 and blooms rarely.
The corpse flower began to bloom and stink at the The United States Botanic Garden Conservatory , Sunday. The giant flower is expected to remain in bloom for 24 to 48 hours before it dies, according to the conservatory. The last time the unique plant was available for public viewing was 2007, when it last bloomed.
While the scent of the flower is not pleasing, the bloom only occurs once in several years or even decades, without any timely pattern. So the bloom, likely to last till Wednesday, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The U.S. Botanic Garden has 13 other corpse flowers reserved in its production greenhouses in Southeast Washington, according to CNN News.
The U.S. Botanic Garden has also given those who cannot make it to the nation's capital for public viewing a chance to witness the blooming by setting up an online live stream from the garden's webcam that shows the giant plant. The last it measured was 79 inches tall, 27 inches taller since it was put on display on July 11.
The fast-growing plant is available for public viewing with extended hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Last week, The National Botanic Garden of Belgium invited thousands of viewers to observe the blooming of the garden's oldest corpse flower.
