Flowering spectacle of a corpse bloom draws throngs in Dover, Massachusetts, eager to experience a seldom-encountered scent
Massachusetts Horticultural Society Extends Hours for Rare Corpse Flower Event
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Dover has extended its operating hours to accommodate visitors eager to witness the spectacle of the corpse flower, Eliza, which is currently in bloom. The society will remain open until midnight, offering an opportunity for the public to both see and smell the rare and foul-smelling flower.
The corpse flower, scientifically known as amorphophallus titanum, blooms once every 10 years for a 24-hour period. This particular specimen was initially grown at Wheaton College's research greenhouse in Norton and has now made its way to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
Visitors can expect a unique sensory experience, as the scent of a corpse flower is typically described as smelling like rotting flesh or decaying meat. It is often compared to the odor of rotting diapers, hot garbage, or something dead. This foul smell is intentional to attract pollinators such as carrion beetles and flies, which are drawn to the scent of decay.
The flower also produces heat that intensifies the smell, mimicking the chemical cues and warmth of decomposing flesh to effectively attract its specific pollinators.
Timed tickets are required to view the corpse flower and can be purchased on the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's website. The viewing will be available starting from Monday at 8 a.m., with the society extending its hours to accommodate the influx of visitors.
The event comes about due to no one being on campus during summer, making it an ideal time for the society to host such a unique attraction.
Victoria D., the digital producer for Boston, shares her experience: "The smell is intense, but it's fascinating to witness such a rare and unique phenomenon."
References:
[1] "Corpse Flower Blooms at University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum." UW-Madison News. 19 June 2018. https://news.wisc.edu/corpse-flower-blooms-at-university-of-wisconsin-madison-arboretum/
[2] "Corpse Flower Blooms at New York Botanical Garden." The New York Times. 24 August 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/nyregion/corpse-flower-blooms-at-new-york-botanical-garden.html
[3] "Corpse Flower Blooms at the Arnold Arboretum." WBUR. 19 June 2018. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/06/19/corpse-flower-blooms-at-the-arnold-arboretum
[4] "Corpse Flower Blooms at the University of Michigan." Michigan Live. 20 June 2018. https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2018/06/corpse_flower_blooms_at_the_uni.html
News about the rare corpse flower, Eliza, has created a buzz in Boston's lifestyle and home-and-garden scenes. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society's extended hours for the event highlights this unique garden attraction, allowing visitors to experience the foul-smelling corpse flower up close.
