You sense the stench of death.
Your nostrils fill with
the nauseating aroma of
putrifying flesh.
Is there a rotting
corpse nearby?
Or is it simply the
worst smelling flower
in the world?
Amorphophallus titanum,
also known as
the corpse flower,
is native to
Sumatra in Indonesia.
It appears rarely,
blooming for just a few days
at a time,
sometimes for as little
as 24 hours,
and only once
every 7 to 9 years.
The flower can be huge,
sometimes growing up
to 6m (20ft) tall
and 4.5m (15ft) across.
It has a distinct
and disgusting smell
that might make you gag
if you ever get near it.
And taking a bite out of it
could leave you with stab wounds
So much for stopping
to smell the flowers.
There's a fascinating reason
why this flower produces
this terrible smell.
The central, phallic spike
of the plant contains
thousands of tiny flowers
which release the scent
when heated up.
This odor attracts insects
that feed on carrion.
While these bugs are looking
for a festering flesh feast,
they actually
pollinate the plant.
Gross.
But as disgusting
as this operation is,
it's an amazing demonstration
of the plant's ability to thrive.
Because of its putrid smell,
flies also tend to lay
their eggs in it
as they would in
actual rotten meat.
Sure,
the flies aren't the reason
why the plant is dangerous,
but the fact that it's often full
of maggots
does make it even more revolting.
The huge size
and pungent aroma of the plant
tend to draw people to it.
But can you observe
the flower without losing your lunch?
The flower's perfume
is extremely unpleasant
and is often compared
to rotting meat,
stinky cheese
and garlic.
It's especially bad in hot weather
and at night,
when the flowers
are most active.
So the ideal way
to view the corpse flower
is with the plant in a greenhouse
and you outside.
But if you did
want to get a close up,
a dab of menthol-based lotion
or vapor rub
could help mask the smell!
Getting a whiff of this plant
is ultimately harmless,
but
touching it is anything but.
The corpse flower contains
oxalate crystals.
These are extremely irritating
and can cause
pain and swelling
if they touch your skin.
Its potent juices
can also burn you.
While the horrible stink
should keep you at bay,
some people may still want
to make contact.
If you do touch the plant,
wash thoroughly with soap
and warm water.
Despite what the smell suggests,
the corms,
which are like bulbs,
and leaf stalks
of the corpse flower
can be boiled and eaten.
They have medicinal properties
used to treat fever,
swelling and diarrhea.
But if not properly prepared,
the oxalate crystals
can cause serious
damage to your mouth and throat.
After all,
they are the culprits
responsible for kidney stones.
As soon as you take a bite,
the crystals can stab into you.
Ever wonder what it's like
to chew on glass?
This can damage your mouth
causing swelling,
hoarseness
and difficulty swallowing.
You can alleviate the pain
by rinsing your mouth,
and reduce swelling
by enjoying a cold drink or treat.
When the plant is pollinated,
it produces hundreds of fruits
along its large stalk.
This fruit can take months
to ripen as the color changes
from gold to
orange to bright red.
While it may look enticing,
it's poisonous to humans.
Though rhinoceros hornbill birds
love them.
Ironically, making this fruit
is so taxing for the plant
that it can cause
them to die afterward.
Long story short,
most of the edible
parts of this plant are
probably more trouble
than they're worth.
While the corpse flower
is an amazing specimen,
considering the dangers
and stink
it's probably best admired
from a distance.
It can be hard to tell
what's safe to eat
that grows in the ground
out in the wild.
Take
mushrooms, for example.
Some varieties can cause serious
damage to you,
or even death.
Find out more on that here,
on How to Survive.