Corpse Flower

July 28 – August 7, 2021 | Public Land Gallery, Sacramento

"From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them, and that is eternity." — Munch

The otherworldly Amorphophallus titanum, aka the corpse flower, produced its infamous inflorescence — the largest unbranched in the world — inside Public Land Gallery. The flower's fragrance has been compared to rotting flesh, hence the nickname. It typically takes this plant 5–10 years before flowering for the first time, and after that every couple of years depending on environment. The short-lived corpse flower was on view until its end, and the smell can permeate your memory forever. A titanum in its vegetative stage was also on view for comparison.

On the menu — what the scent is made of: Primarily dimethyl trisulfide (stinky cheese or boiled cabbage) and dimethyl disulfide (garlic), but also trimethylamine (rotting fish), isovaleric acid (sweaty socks), benzyl alcohol (sweet flowery scent), and indole.

Special thanks to Sacramento State Biological Sciences Department and Daniel Pfarr for entrusting us as babysitters for these incredible plants!

Photos