Temple Ambler’s giant corpse flowers
A close look at the rare plants, which recently bloomed at the Temple Ambler Greenhouse and Research Complex.
Temple’s Ambler Campus recently played host to a rare horticultural event: the blooming of two Amorphophallus titanum plants, also known as giant corpse flowers.
Famous for their size and the smell they give off (the odor of rotting meat), the plants take years to mature and each bloom only lasts for 24 to 36 hours.
Take a closer look at these unusual specimens.
Native to Sumatra, the giant corpse flower is currently classified as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
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The flowers emit the smell of decaying meat to attract the carrion beetles and flies they rely on for pollination.
Temple’s corpse flowers were donated by Ohio State University in 2017.
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Learn more about the corpse flowers and register for in-person viewing.
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