Image of person handling a large plant that is emitting an odor Image of person handling a large plant that is emitting an odor Image of person handling a large plant that is emitting an odor

U.S. Botanic Garden

Standards

Making A Stink

In August, crowds rushed to the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. They came to see a rare sight—and to smell a powerful odor. A corpse flower was in bloom. The colorful plant stretched 7 feet 6 inches high. That’s taller than any current pro basketball player. Corpse flowers are native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia. They get their nickname from their horrible scent, which has been compared to rotting flesh. But the stinky flowers don’t last very long. They begin to wilt after a couple of days.

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