Encinitas, CA, Nov. 3 (BUS): Giant, fragrant Sumatran flower blossoms dubbed the “corpse plant” because it smells like a dead corpse, are attracting huge crowds to a Southern California botanical garden.
The flowering of Amorphophallus titanum began Sunday afternoon at the San Diego Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that timed admission tickets had sold out by Monday morning.
More than 5,000 people are expected to visit the park by Tuesday evening.
‘Corpse plant’ flowers only last 48 hours and during their peak, they emit a foul smell of rotting flesh to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies that aid in the pollination process, according to the Associated Press.
“The smell of the rotting corpse of the blooming flower was so thick and heavy that you could cut it with a knife,” said John Connors, director of horticulture at the San Diego Botanical Gardens.