The McMaster University Biology Greenhouse in Hamilton is inviting the public to see — and smell — the corpse flower; one of the most unique species on the planet.
Nicknamed Stinky Arthur, the amorphophallus titanium plant is set to bloom within the next week or so, and McMaster is expanding its typical visiting hours to include evenings.
The corpse flower gets its name due to its potent smell, which mimics a decomposing corpse in order to attract native pollinators, like carrion beetles and flesh flies, who are drawn to the smell of decaying meat.
The flower’s scent is a chemical combination of dimethyl trisulfide, isovaleric acid, dimethyl disulphide, benzyl alcohol, indole, and trimethylamine.
You can track the flower’s progress via the greenhouse’s Instagram account: instagram.com/mcmasterbiogreenhouse
