Rare Flower To Bloom

A rare flower is set to bloom for the first time in 10 years.

16:38 15 July 2015

A rare flower at Cambridge University Botanic Garden is set to bloom for the first time in 10 years. Thousands of people are expected to witness the event despite the fact that the flower will smell like a rotting flesh.

 

The flower, “titan arum” is expected to blossomed on Wednesday or Thursday. It is stinkiest at night so the garden will be open until 10pm.

 

Juliet Day, from the garden, said: “It’s a very rare event. We’re very excited.”

 

Garden director Prof Beverley Glover said: "Amorphophallus titanum is a very unusual plant.

"It lives mostly in an underground tuber which every year puts out one gigantic leaf several metres tall that lasts for the growing season.

 

"This year it's decided not to put up a new leaf, but to put up a flower instead.

"When it comes out, it's the biggest single flower known in the world. It can be about two metres (80in) across."