7 Shocking Facts About The Corpse Flower | The Flower That Smells Like Dead Body
Imagine walking in a quiet garden and suddenly smelling something really bad like something dead. You want to run away but something keeps pulling you closer. What could smell this awful and still be so strange? Its Corpse Flower
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Imagine a giant flower hidden in the rainforests of Sumatra. You approach it and smell something so bad, you almost run! That’s the corpse flower. The flower is not just weird it’s smart. Its smell attracts insects that help it reproduce. Sometimes it even produces a fruit with seeds for new plants.
Finally, this giant, stinky flower is so rare and fascinating that people travel worldwide just to see it bloom. The corpse flower reminds us that nature can be strange, amazing and full of surprises. All in one deadly-smelling flower. So, Lets cover the 7 shocking facts about the corpse flower.
Fact 1: The Corpse Flower Is Giant — You Won’t Believe Its Size!
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is one of the largest flowers in the world. Its stem can grow over 10 feet (3 meters) high, and the bloom (flower head) is enormous with purple and green colors. It grows in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia,
Fact 2: The Corpse Flower Bloom Happens Only Once Every 7–10 Years!
The flower bloom is extremely rare. Most plants take 7 to 10 years before blooming for the first time. When it finally blooms, the flower lasts only 24–48 hours. When it blooms the flower steals the show, no branches or leaves appear during flowering.
Blooming depends on the plant’s age, size and environment. Botanical gardens around the world treat every bloom as a huge event people travel long distances to witness it!
Fact 3: The Corpse Flower’s Strange Shape Is Amazing!
The corpse plant grows from a corm (large underground bulb storing energy). Its flower spike can reach over 10 feet, and inside the bloom, a red-purple spadix is surrounded by a green leaf-like spathe.
The flower produces heat, which spreads the smell farther and attracts insects that carry pollen (plant sperm) to other corpse plants.
Fact 4: Why the Corpse Flower Smells like Dead Human And Why That’s Genius!
The corpse Flower smells like rotting flesh (dead meat). Nature designed it this way to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, which help pollinate the plant.
The smell, color and heat all work together to trick insects into fertilizing the plant. Without this smell, the corpse plant would struggle to survive in the wild.
Fact 5: The Corpse Plant Fruit You’ll Be Surprised How!
After pollination ( It’s an act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma ), the corpse plant produces a fruit containing seeds that grow into new plants.
- Can humans eat it? Not usually, but tiny amounts are safe for research.
- Reproduction depends heavily on insects attracted to the smell.
Fact 6: Other Corpse-Smelling Flowers — Could One Be Near You?
Not all corpse-smelling flowers are the same. There are several strange flowers that smell like rotting meat or dead bodies, each with its own tricks:
1. Voodoo Lily (Amorphophallus konjac) — Related to Corpse Plant
- Grows in parts of Asia.
- Smells like rotten meat to attract flies.
2. Rafflesia arnoldii (Corpse Lily) — Another Corpse Plant Relative
- The largest single flower in the world.
- Native to Sumatra and Borneo.
- Smells extremely bad like the corpse plant smell.
3. Hydnora africana — Corpse Plant Cousin in Africa
- Grows in South Africa.
- Lives mostly underground.
- Produces a foul stench to lure beetles.
4. Sauromatum guttatum — Voodoo Flower Related to the Corpse Plant
- Found in tropical regions.
- Blooms rarely, smells strong, and produces heat like the corpse plant.
Fun Fact: Some of these flowers may be closer than you think! Next time you visit a botanical garden or tropical park, check carefully — you might spot one of these strange-smelling wonders.
Fact 7: The Corpse Flower Is a Worldwide Attraction People Travel Just to See It!
Corpse Flower is not just strange and stinky. It is also one of the most famous flowers in the world. People from far away travel to see it bloom and botanical gardens make a big event every time it opens. This giant flower surprises everyone with its size, rare bloom and even the heat it produces to spread its strong smell. Here are some amazing facts about why corpse flower is so special:
- The biggest single flower in the world! The corpse plant can grow taller than most people can reach.
- Rare blooms — sometimes only once every 10 years! Seeing it open is a huge event.
- It even produces heat! The corpse flower blooms warms itself to spread its strong, stinky smell farther.
- Thousands of visitors come from all over the world. Botanical gardens host special events for each bloom, and people travel just to see this strange and amazing flower.
How the Corpse Flower Shows Nature’s Deadly Beauty?
The corpse plant is strange, rare and fascinating. From its enormous bloom to its horrifying smell, it shows how clever nature can be. Even something that smells awful can play an important role attracting insects, reproducing and surviving for millions of years.
FAQs | Everything You’ve Always Wondered
How long does the corpse plant bloom?
The corpse plant blooms for only 24 to 48 hours, which means its flowers are open for just one or two days.
Can humans touch it safely?
Yes, Humans can touch the corpse plant safely, but be ready for the very strong, bad smell!
What does the corpse flower smell like?
The corpse plant smells like rotting flesh or dead meat, which helps attract insects for pollination.
When will the next corpse plant bloom?
The corpse flower usually blooms once every 7 to 10 years, so each bloom is a very rare event.
Are there other plants that smell like death?
Yes! Other plants like the voodoo lily and Rafflesia arnoldii, also produce a foul smell to attract insects.