| Corpse Flower |

The Titan Arum or Bunga bangkai.

This "unique" plant produces one of the largest flowering structures (growing up to 3 meters tall) and one of the foulest odours in the plant kingdom.

This plant grows in the rainforest of Sumatra, Indonesia and due to its smell indonesians call it the "corpse flower".

The first corpse flower to bloom through cultivation took place in London in 1889, since then there have only been 157 recorded blooms.

What does it smell like?

The smell of this flower resembles rotting flesh or meat. This smell helps to attract flies, beetles and other insects that typically eat decaying material so they can pollinate the flower. When the flower is ready for pollination, it gradually opens releasing powerful odors and heat with temperatures similar to the human body (from 36 to 37.8 degrees C) so the aromatic compounds turn into votalite compounds.

Chemistry of the Corpse flower

The chemistry of this flower is kind of a mystery to scientists but some compounds have been detected.

The principal aromatic components are the sulphur-containing compounds:

*Dimethyl trisulfide (like limburger cheese)

*Dimethyl disulfide, trimethylamine (rotting fish)

Other chemicals detected:

*Benzyl alcohol

*Indole (like human feces)

*Cadaverine and Putrescine, compounds produced by prutefaction of animal tissue.

An interesting stinky flower with a creepy nickname, huh?

Hope you liked it! :)