Visitors Describe Massive Flower's Stench

Paul Berry, UW botany professor describes the blooming process A Titan Arum, known as the "corpse flower," has begun to bloom at a University of Wisconsin-Madison greenhouse. Standing at a height of 8 feet 4 inches, the mighty, smelly plant is close to surpassing the height record for plants grown outside their native habitat, Channel3000.com reports. "It's becoming a big event," Prof. Paul Berry said. "It's really going to start to smell." You can see a live image of the bloom on the Internet on the UW's Web cam. ( Click Here To Watch ) Researchers believe that the rotten flesh odor of the flower is intended to attract carrion-eating beetles to pollinate its flowers. The bloom, which could have a diameter as wide as 4 feet, lasts only a few days before it topples over. Thousands of visitors have been coming to the UW greenhouse over the past week to see the plant, which is native to Sumatra. Berry said that the plant is almost eight years old. University of Wisconsin-Madison News Service "corpse flower" facts and information:

• Two Web sites provide information about the plant and and live images of the plant. Click here to see the Web cam or get more information.
• The plant hotline is (608) 262-2235.
• The plant grew another 1 1/2 inches between Wednesday morning and Thursday.
• The nascent bloom at UW-Madison, exceedingly rare among cultivated titan arum plants, is the first in Wisconsin and may be only the 12th recorded U.S. bloom.

• In order to better accommodate the growing number of people wanting to see the "corpse" flower (pictured, right) in Birge Hall Greenhouse No. 8, the viewing period will be expanded yet again. The greenhouse will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday through Sunday, June 8-10.
• Also to better accommodate visitors, the entrance has been changed. The only entrance to the greenhouse will be through the garage at the rear of Birge Hall at the southeast corner of the building. Visitors will then be able to exit through the building after seeing the flower.
• Birge Hall is just south of Bascom Hall. No public parking is available on Bascom Hill. Nearby public parking includes the Grainger Hall garage outside the gated area (enter on Brooks Street), the lower level of the Lot 46 ramp (enter from Frances Street), Area 6 under Helen C. White Library on North Park Street, Lot 20 ramp on the north side of University Avenue between Charter Street and Randall Avenue, the Fluno Center ramp (enter from Frances Street), University Square (Lot 47) on West Johnson Street and the city's Lake Street ramp.
• Greenhouse No. 8 is accessible to people with disabilities. Wheelchairs are available.