The corpse flower is expected to bloom for several days. (Photo : Denver Botanic Gardens)
The corpse flower found in Denver Botanic Gardens apparently began to bloom last Tuesday, August 18 which is an extremely rare plant that produces a distinct odor of not the sweet, floral variety but more comparable to rotting flesh.
The flower, also called by researchers as "Stinky" is native to Sumatra, Indonesia and goes by the official scientific name of Amorphophallus titanum which translates to misshapen giant penis. This unique bloom is now starting to wilt, where its odor is also fading and weakening however, for those who want to catch a glimpse and whiff of it, it is still not too late to visit this exquisite flower.
According to the spokesperson for the Denver Botanic Gardens, Erin Bird, however, it is expected to stand in line as the rare flower attracted some 12,000 visitors recently which is also a new record for paid admissions in the gardens located in central Denver.
In order to accommodate the curious crowds, the gardens had already made an extension of its visiting hours from 5 A.M. to midnight. Some visitors even started to fall in line as early as 3 A.M. to catch a glimpse of the corpse flower where people across all ages waited in line for as long as several hours to smell some unique floral stink.
Bird says that people were really very patient where some made new friends while they were waiting in line. Other visitors also say that this is part of their overall experience where many have taken photos of them with "Stinky". The gardens has even assigned a volunteer to help take a photograph for those who prefer a proper image compared to a selfie one.
Bird also adds that the gardens also had set up a time lapse camera to obtain crucial footage of the corpse flower in bloom from start to its end where the flower has been living for almost six years. The giant corpse flower was apparently donated by a private collector who gave it to the Denver Botanic Gardens when it got too big.
The gardens also offers visitors to grow their own corpse flower in their homes where the Denver Botanic Gardens gift shop is now selling baby corpse plants for US $75 each.
