What plant stinks when it blooms?
The spring bulb crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) has a beautiful tall, stately flower with a "skunky" scent. The white spring blooms of the Callery pear tree (Pyrus calleryana) contain the compound butyric acid that smells "fishy" or like "regurgitation." Even bright-colored marigold flowers (Tagetes spp.)
Titan arum, corpse flower
The titan arum, the first of two flowers in this list nicknamed the corpse flower, carries the unfortunate designation of being "the worst smelling flower in the world." It smells like — you guessed it — a stinking, rotting corpse.
The corpse flower holds the title of “the worst smelling flower in the world” and it smells just like a rotting, stinking corpse. With their vase-like exterior that packs tons of smelly flowers inside, called an inflorescence, these blooms are huge draws at greenhouses all over the globe.
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, boasts a powerful stink, and blooms for just 2-3 days once every year or two. The bloom can grow up to 8 feet tall! This plant fascinates visitors of all ages.
What makes this stinky flora so special? The corpse flower smells like… well, a dead body. Given its rotting odor, the plant, whose technical name is Amorphophallus titanum has also been dubbed the corpse bride, corpse plant, and the world's smelliest flower.
The spring bulb crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) has a beautiful tall, stately flower with a "skunky" scent. The white spring blooms of the Callery pear tree (Pyrus calleryana) contain the compound butyric acid that smells "fishy" or like "regurgitation." Even bright-colored marigold flowers (Tagetes spp.)
Rafflesia arnoldii, the corpse flower, or giant padma, is a species of flowering plant in the parasitic genus Rafflesia. It is noted for producing the largest individual flower on Earth. It has a strong and unpleasant odor of decaying flesh. It is native to the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo.
The flowers shift colors as they age and beckon butterflies by the dozens. Sandpapery leaves conceal a somewhat pungent surprise. Brush against or break lantana leaves, and you'll encounter an odor that's somewhere between cat urine, gasoline and fermented citrus.
The scent of marigold is often described as earthy, musky, and slightly spicy. In some cultures, marigolds are associated with positive symbolism, such as good fortune, love, and protection. In aromatherapy, the scent of marigold is sometimes used to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Agave Americana Blooms Once Every Hundred Years
Ironically, the plant is known as a century plant, although on average the plant blooms about every 30 years.
What plant only blooms every 100 years?
The agave americana plant is known as a century plant because it typically blooms once every 100 years at the end of its life cycle.
While the corpse plant may smell bad to us, it is very attractive to insects that like to lay their eggs in rotten meat. By smelling like bad meat, the plant attracts insects that spread the plant's pollen around and help make new plants. An Italian scientist discovered the corpse plant in 1878.
From a list of ten unique scents, survey respondents from a variety of cultural backgrounds all ranked vanilla the most pleasant, reports Peter Dockrill for Science Alert.
Rose. The rose is considered the most beautiful flower in the world, which is why it's called the “queen of the garden.” It's one of the most popular flowers worldwide, and it comes in different sizes and colors.
Titan-arum or corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
Flowering Tobacco, Nicotiana sylvestris.
Widely acknowledged as the most fragrant flower, Jasmine is used in perfume and cosmetic industries. These blooms are widely used in aromatherapy too as their smell helps in relaxing the mind.
The Trillium erectum, usually found by mountain laurel and rhododendron, is known for smelling just like a wet dog, and Trillium sessile emits a yummy raw beef smell. (But the leaves of trilliums are toxic to pups!)
Aside from its thorny seedlings and invasive growth pattern, the Bradford pear tree stands out for another unpalatable reason: Its smell can only be described as that of a dead fish. Yep, its flowers smell overwhelmingly fishy.
A plant and flower that many people know is the marigold. The marigold produces a smell like no other plant, so it is hard to describe. The musky, pungent smell seems to be either alluring or offensive to people. Marigolds have a smell that seems to repel critters and insects.
Which plant has the biggest flower amongst all plants but smell like rotten meat?
Rafflesia arnoldii | AMNH. The world's largest flower grows in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. But its enormous, bright red bloom does not fill the air with a sweet aroma. In fact, the Rafflesia arnoldii is known as the "corpse flower" because it smells like dead flesh.
It forms dense thickets that can smother and destroy native vegetation and are impenetrable to animals, people and vehicles. Research indicates more than 1400 native species are negatively affected by lantana invasion, including many endangered and threatened species.
Furthermore, lantana is toxic to livestock and humans. Any type of chemical control or mechanical control is likely to be too costly in large areas where it really causes damage. In the home garden, simply pulling out lantana can be adequate for controlling its spread.
The Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom. It can grow more than 8 feet tall, blooms for only 1 to 3 days every year or so, and boasts a powerful stench when it blooms, earning the flower its putrid name.
Some of the strongest smelling flowers include jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, hyacinth, and lily of the valley. These flowers are known for their intense and captivating fragrances.
References
- https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/lantana/controlling-lantana-weeds.htm
- https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/62010/lantana.pdf
- https://www.ourmidland.com/lifestyles/article/Martin-Plants-with-bad-body-odor-13181855.php
- https://www.treehugger.com/worst-smelling-flowers-in-the-world-4869311
- https://www.southernliving.com/garden/plants/bad-smelling-plants
- https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/unique-century-plant-blooms-early/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia_arnoldii
- https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/newsforyou/pdfs/newsforyou016-download.pdf
- https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/flowering-tobacco-nicotiana-sylvestris/
- https://lawnlove.com/blog/plants-that-make-your-garden-stink/
- https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/ology-cards/369-rafflesia-arnoldii
- https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-strongest-smelling-flowers
- https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/14-stinky-plants-pictures
- https://wvtourism.com/trail-scents-dogs-love/
- https://theflora.in/blogs/all-about-flowers/fragrant-flowers
- https://www.nybg.org/garden/the-corpse-flower-amorphophallus-titanum/
- https://www.usbg.gov/gardens-plants/corpse-flowers
- https://www.quora.com/What-does-it-mean-when-you-smell-marigold
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vanilla-is-earths-most-preferred-smell-regardless-of-cultural-background-180979870/
- https://abc11.com/agave-americana-century-plant-blooming-early-mexican-plants/11963320/
- https://www.verdissimo.com/en/news/the-most-beautiful-flowers-in-the-world
- https://www.discovery.com/nature/the-world-s-smelliest-flower-blooms-once-a-decade
- https://huntington.org/corpse-flower
- https://extension.psu.edu/four-really-stinky-flowers
