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What's That Smell? Posted by Alvin in Motown, z6 on May 8, 2025, 8:56 pm Can anyone guess what this smelly flower is, in my basement, is? It will be going out tomorrow, where it may attract flies. Here is a progression, over about 10 days. It is just now stinky, lol... https://photos.app.goo.gl/6ds9yckWz3SG4tyAA https://photos.app.goo.gl/bDSnjtqpdqpGoPPP7

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Fred SC on May 9, 2025, 6:32 am, in reply to "What's That Smell?" Alvin, Amorphallus species for sure. ! How long for bloom to come out? Does it smell as bad as refuted to be? I have never seen one in bloom except in pictures. The giant one in Indonesia is incredible!

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Alvin, z6 on May 9, 2025, 11:51 am, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Yep, Fred, there is a giant Corpse Lily, Amorphophallus titanum, (named for how the flower reeks of something, I guess, large, like a human or horse, died. My smaller Corpse Lily species, Amorphophallus konjacI think it smells like something relatively small, like a rat, died), LOL. I am amazed at how these corms can bloom in a pot, OR on barerooted corm, WHILE IN WINTER STORAGE. Years ago, I had a barerooted corm, send up a flower stalk, out of a plastic garbage bag, while in storage. That one had a larger, softball sized corm. The bloom stalk shot up 6 ft! This one is about half that size, and the corm is in a 3 gallon pot. It has gotten NO WATER, since coming inside, last fall. Amorphophallus, although hardy here, returns late from the root (like, early July), and has never flowered, from a corm wintered, in the ground. Only foliage grows, from the ground, when grown in the ground, here.

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by JimHardy on May 9, 2025, 5:54 pm, in reply to "What's That Smell?" Ooh, that smell Can't you smell that smell? Ooh, that smell The smell of death surrounds you

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Kris OK on May 10, 2025, 7:37 pm, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Alvin the Amorphophallus name is from Greek. Amorpho - “without shape”, and “phallus” - penis. titanum - “huge”. some botanist named it for what it looks like! I had some konjac I kept in the ground, and you’re right. They never flowered. Just the weird ring of leaves every year.

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Alvin, z6 on May 11, 2025, 11:40 am, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Thanks, Kris. Maybe, in zones below 8, they probably bloom more reliably, indoors, or at least while the flower stalk is forming. The summer foliage on Corpse Lilies, at least with A. konrad, is interesting, too. It looks like a mini tree trunk, with mottling, that resembles snakeskin.

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Alvin, z6 on May 11, 2025, 11:41 am, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Absolutely, Jim. Absolutely.

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Alvin, z6 on May 11, 2025, 11:52 am, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Fred, I got this A. konjac, from PDN, 3 or 4 yrs ago. It usually takes some years, before the corms get to be bloom age (especially with the small plants, from PDN). I guess bloom age corms would be more expensive. These plant produce interesting foliage, after the flower is pollinated, and dies. Usually attracts flies, due to the scent,, outdoors, that carry out the pollination. PDN carries the Giant Corpse Lily, for 85 dollars, that I can imagine might take some years to flower, as well.

Also, Kris.. Posted by Alvin, z6 on May 11, 2025, 12:01 pm, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Yep, the Corpse Lily is a phallic symbol, and similar in shape to creations of masculinity, like skyscrapers, fire hydrants, domed structures, etc.

Re: What's That Smell? Posted by Kris OK on May 11, 2025, 11:04 pm, in reply to "Re: What's That Smell?" Alvin, it might have been the one I had. It had the mottled stalk that made a ring at the top. All the leaves grew in a circle out of the ring. It was sold as a voodoo Lilly or snake Lilly. Wish I still had it.

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