Rare corpse plant to bloom soon at Foster Botanical Garden
@Caption1:John Martinez sniffed the blooming Amorphophallus titanum, commonly called the corpse flower, at the Foster Botanical Garden. The species is the world's largest single unbranched flower -- and possibly the stinkiest.
Three more corpse plants at the Foster Botanical Garden are expected to bloom in the coming days and Foster Botanical Garden is extending its normal hours for the public to experience this event that only happens once every three to five years.
One Amorphophallus titanum (Corpse plant)is expected to bloom this weekend and the other two are likely to bloom next week.
Foster Botanical Garden is normally open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily, except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. The garden will remain open until 6 p.m. this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to allow extra viewing time, according to Jay Parasco of the City and County of Honolulu.
The endangered Corpse Plant is native to Sumatra, Indonesia. The plant has a pungent odor of rotting flesh, which serves to attract carrion beetles that pollinate the flower, Parasco said. The short-lived flowers only bloom once every three to five years.
Admission to Foster Botanical Garden is: $5.00 – general, 13 years and older; $3.00 – Hawaii resident 13 years and older with ID, $1.00 – Child 6 to 12 years old; free – Child 5 years old and under (must be with adult). Call 522-7066 for information.
