A rare corpse flower has bloomed at Colorado State University, attracting thousands of visitors eager to catch a glimpse (and a whiff) of the unique plant. The flower, named Cosmo, releases a strong odor that mimics the smell of decaying flesh to attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flies. This is the first bloom for the flower, which has been under the university’s care for seven years.
The public is invited to view the corpse flower while it blooms, with a free live stream available online for those unable to visit in person. The flower had 4,444 visitors on Sunday, with wait times ranging from one hour to 90 minutes. The viewing will continue on Memorial Day Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as the bloom usually lasts 24-48 hours. Visitors are advised to bring water and snacks, and line formation will end at 2 p.m.
The corpse flower, known scientifically as Amorphophallus titanum, was brought to CSU in 2016 during a plant swap and named Cosmo. The bloom emits a strong odor for the first 12-24 hours, which decreases over time as the flower only lasts for two to three days. This event is considered rare and significant for the university, attracting a lot of attention from botany enthusiasts and the general public.
For more details and updates on the flowering event, readers are encouraged to visit The Denver Gazette’s news partners 9NEWS.com.
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