San Francisco, CA – The California Academy of Sciences is abuzz with anticipation as the first corpse flower is on the verge of blooming, with the foul smell expected to waft through the rainforest exhibit. The bloom, which had been growing at an astonishing rate of 7 inches per day, suddenly halted on Sunday morning, signaling an imminent burst into full bloom.
The Academy alerted enthusiasts through an emergency blast on social media, prompting devotees of rare horticulture to alter their Sunday plans to witness this unusual spectacle at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Dawn Melikant, who had driven down from Santa Rosa, expressed her excitement, saying, “I missed it by one day in 2015 when I was living in Washington, D.C., and I’ve been trying to catch one ever since. It’s super unique.” Her boyfriend, Kyle Crawford, added humorously, “Nothing says ‘perfect date’ like smelly feet and garlic.”
The corpse flower, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, is notorious for its repugnant odor often likened to smelly feet, garlic, animal carcasses, and rotting fish. The plant’s distinctive feature is that its foul fragrance lasts only about 24 hours, creating an element of unpredictability for visitors hoping to experience the smell.
“This is fascinating. It’s the most unusual plant I’ve ever seen,” remarked Kit Collins of San Francisco, accompanied by his son and grandsons. His grandson Sal, 4, commented, “It may be stinky,” displaying his willingness to endure the wait.
The academy’s resident corpse flower, named Mirage, had been patiently growing over five years since its arrival from the Conservatory of Flowers. Unlike its natural habitat where it blooms in summer, the Osher rainforest, with its artificial lighting and consistent hot and humid conditions, prompted Mirage to make its debut in winter.
“Because of artificial lighting, the plant thinks it is summertime,” explained Tim Wong, senior biologist at the academy. The corpse flower, due to its mystical qualities, was aptly named Mirage, and its bud development was initiated on Feb. 16. Mirage’s rapid growth to 6 feet, 5 inches was followed by a sudden stop, signaling its transition into the blooming phase.
Wong noted that predicting the exact moment of blooming is challenging, but a livestream is available 24/7 on the academy’s YouTube channel. Wong hinted that it could happen overnight, recommending checking the channel in the morning and staying flexible. The academy opens at 9:30 a.m., with the peak smell occurring when the bloom opens.
The corpse flower’s infamous odor is a strategy to attract flies, beetles, and other insects drawn to the smell of decomposition. These insects, in turn, pick up pollen and aid in cross-pollination, contributing to the species’ survival.
As visitors eagerly await the bloom, the academy’s livestream offers a front-row seat to this captivating natural event.
