# Can anyone identify these flowers? (pic)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348 "2011-02-14T19:47:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![yelimS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/54ee81/32.png) [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348/1 "2011-02-14T19:47:26Z")

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[![](https://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa462/utenatt/?action=view&current=31640_10150211030370004_514400003_12619312_7005565_n.jpg) ](https://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa462/utenatt/?action=view&current=31640_10150211030370004_514400003_12619312_7005565_n.jpg)

They also smell a lot like pot.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348/2 "2011-02-14T19:55:37Z")

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[Fritillaria imperialis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritillaria_imperialis) - the Crown Imperial Fritillary

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348/3 "2011-02-15T19:58:09Z")

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Some people think Fritillaria imperialis bulbs/foliage (and that of other members of the genus) have a smell similar to skunk odor. The plants are also reputed to repel skunks.

This does not make sense to me. If the plants smell like skunk, you’d think planting them would result in a skunk party.

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**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348/4 "2011-02-15T20:15:55Z")

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What I’d heard that they repel is gophers, moles and other burrowing, tuber-eating rodents. You know, to protect your garden. My teacher said that wandering deer ate every ornamental flower and plant in their yard, but completely ignored these. So, YMMV, if you’re using these to protect your plantings.

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**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348/5 "2011-02-15T20:22:34Z")

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> [@yelimS](#):
>
> They also smell a lot like pot.

> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> Some people think Fritillaria imperialis bulbs/foliage (and that of other members of the genus) have a smell similar to skunk odor. The plants are also reputed to repel skunks.

Perhaps it smells like [skunk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk_%28cannabis%29#Skunk), not [skunk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk)?

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-these-flowers-pic/571348/6 "2011-02-15T20:44:04Z")

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People here in the UK liken the smell to fox urine, I believe.