Video: Rotterdam zoo's Giant Penis Plant, known for "corpse" smell, in rare bloom
A rare moment where the Diergaarde Blijdorp was able to announce it's Titan Arum plant was in bloom should be considered an "exceptional botanical event," the zoo said on Wednesday. Known as the Corpse Flower in some parts of the world, and the Giant Penis Plant in the Netherlands, it only blooms for a maximum of about 72 hours when the unusual plant flowers, an event which last happened in Rotterdam in 2023.
"For the next two or three days, an exceptional botanical event can be admired in the monumental Victoria Greenhouse at Blijdorp," the zoo wrote in a statement. "This spectacular plant last bloomed at Blijdorp in 1963 and 2023, and immediately attracts attention with its impressive appearance and characteristic smell of carrion," or decaying flesh.
In the wild, the plant can only be found in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. Visually, it is known for its "towering" inflorescence, where the flowering portion of the plant clusters to a height of up to three meters.
"When flowering, the plant emits a strong odor reminiscent of rotting flesh. Although less pleasant for humans, this scent is essential for the plant: it attracts insects that ensure pollination," the zoo stated.
Even still, it is expected to draw a large number of visitors, a spokesperson told ANP. "We hope that people think, 'I want to see this with my own eyes, and experience it with my own nose.'"
This particular plant at Blijdorp was hand-pollinated as part of a collaboration with the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, the zoo said. Successful pollination can develop fruits in the dozens which can continue to grow for months.
"The female and male flowers bloom at different times. The female flowers open first, followed by the male flowers a few days later. In this way, the plant prevents self-pollination and increases the chance of genetic diversity," Blijdorp said.
The plant can take up to 10 years to flower for the first time. Though endemic to West Sumatra, it has been cultivated for decades at the Hortus Botanicus, where it was in bloom last year, as well as in 2022 and 2023. Another Titan Arum was in was in bloom at the Ghent University last month.
