# What's that \*stench\*? (Titan Arum alert!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 22, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137 "2003-07-22T13:33:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/1 "2003-07-22T13:33:19Z")
Y’all might want to stay away from the US Capitol grounds for a while unless you don’t mind the smell of rotting flesh. > [@](#): > > [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20567-2003Jul20.html) > Attendance at the U.S. Botanic Garden was running four to five times above normal yesterday as the curious gathered to see the world’s largest bloom unfurl. The flower bided its time. > > First expected to reveal itself on Thursday, the titan arum continued to grow taller and fatter but stubbornly refused to open over the weekend. > > “I had people on Friday demand to know when it would open,” said Holly Shimizu, Botanic Garden director, tapping her wristwatch. She shrugged. > > In nature, the plant is pollinated by carrion flies and dung beetles and tries to make them feel at home. Yesterday, though, some bugs were being drawn to the arum, said Shimizu, suggesting that it has begun to release its fragrance. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/2 "2003-07-22T18:43:48Z")
Yessirree. When there’s a Titan Arum in bloom, the usual doings of the US government smell fresh and clean by comparison. That’s probably why the Botanical folks keep the flower around. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/3 "2003-07-22T21:11:47Z")
All I know is it’s [within a half-mile of the Capitol Building](http://www.usbg.gov/your-visit/images/23002551.gif) and the first to ever bloom in DC. ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/4 "2003-07-22T21:27:20Z")
More jokes, please. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/5 "2003-07-22T23:58:25Z")
Looks like I only have to wait four years for my A. konjac…but 140 lbs? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/6 "2003-07-23T04:01:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*All I know is it’s [within a half-mile of the Capitol Building](http://www.usbg.gov/your-visit/images/23002551.gif) and the first to ever bloom in DC. \*\* Holy cow! There’s Masonic symbolism in that street layout! We gotta tell people! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-stench-titan-arum-alert/190137/7 "2003-07-23T13:35:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dijon Warlock \* > \*\*Holy cow! There’s Masonic symbolism in that street layout! We gotta tell people! \*\* Naw, that’s just direcions for UFOs. Jimmy Carter had those put in.