Sumatra, Indonesia, is known for having some of the world's best coffee beans, but now it's known for its incredible corpse lily. This flower, while rarely found, looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie and smells like something rotting... But that's all part of its allure. While one flower in the Amorphophallus species is housed in Chicago at the Chicago Botanical Garden, the corpse lily that bloomed in Sumatra is so striking because it bears an uncanny - and slightly disturbing - resemblance to the Demogorgon monsters from Netflix's hit show Stranger Things.
The flower in question bloomed in 2019 and with it came the air of something truly unsettling - this flower lets of a noxious scent when it unfurls its petals, an easy smell to sniff from some ways off. However, the blooming of the Rafflesia tuan-mudae is often quite a big deal and will draw in a significant crowd, as they're not normally sighted outside of deep jungle depths. While the corpse lily is quite large, the plant that bloomed most recently measured nearly 44 inches, making it one of the largest ever seen and recorded. The center of the plant alone would have encompassed a human head and that's not even including its surround petals, equally as massive.
They're Not Actually Flowers
Rather, the corpse lily, despite its name, is a parasite. A rather large and intimidating parasite, but a parasite nonetheless. These plants live inside the Tetrastigma vines before attaching themselves to each other, thus taking nutrients from the vines to serve their growth purposes. Due to their parasitic nature, these plants don't bloom often and it takes a significant amount from their host in order to do so. That's why catching one of these in bloom is such a huge deal - it's not often seen and takes such an act of nature in order to happen.
Witnessing the plant in full bloom, however, is also rather unsettling. The scent it emits - which is used to draw in birds that hunt rotting prey - smells like rotting prey. Additionally, the plant's coloring is a vibrant red with white flecks, resembling something entirely different from a bird's eye view. Some compare the appearance of the plant to be similar to raw venison while others are completely taken with its striking and bold visual. Interestingly, the corpse lily's bloom is the last thing the plant will ever do. After it has reached its peak bloom, the flower withers and dies, leaving behind nothing but a decaying heap.
These plants can be found in Southeast Asia and actually need to be 'hunted' down in order to be found. They're so elusive that it's hard to tell how many actually exist and if the same species of plant in Chicago is any indication, it's rare that they move, let alone bloom, and by the time the scent of one is picked up in the air, its life is already over. Furthermore, it's presumed that each plant in this species carries with it a unique scent, making it nearly impossible to compare one to the other. With each plant being so uniquely and wholly different from the last, it's likely that this species will continue to elude scientists and bloom in full privacy from prying eyes. While the plant species seems as though it would be a challenge to grow, it's actually quite simple - however, it does require a massive pot as well as constant feeding in order to keep it happy (imagine Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors).
The Amorphophallus plant in Chicago is said, luckily, to carry with it a scent that's strong, but bearable. While many have nearly stomach-turning scents, Alice, as the plant is affectionately referred to, has an air of 'hog farm' according to its caretakers. The smell has also been compared to that of 'a dead mouse trapped in a kitchen sink,' but not as bad a 'dirty socks.' Other things the scent has been compared to are ammonia, manure, and even sauerkraut that has been left out to rot.
While these plants are certainly not winning any hearts in terms of their wafting smell, they're unique and beautiful regardless. Those lucky enough to witness one in action or see one in real life know how truly incredible the botanical world can be, and while this isn't the classically stunning lily that most will plant in their gardens each year, it's dynamic and interesting in its own (stinky) way.