Amorphophallus titanum

Corpse FlowerThe Corpse Flower - Close and StinkyChico State is home to a Amorphophallus titanum, better known as the Corpse Flower. Most of the time when we think about this plant, we're reminded of an almost annual media frenzy over similar plants in New York or other metropolitan cities. However, right here in Chico, there's a Corpse Flower — and attracting curious humans instead of carrion beetles! After it's done with its fragrant display, it'll begin to develop seeds.

This particular plant, cared for by the Biological Sciences Department, took ten years to reach a stage where it may bloom. And once it blooms, it smells like an animal carcass for many hours. By the next day, most of the stench is gone. The trend thus far has been that this plant blooms every three years. The last time it bloomed was in 2004. More recently, it bloomed May 29 2007 — 22 days after Tabatha the Titan at UC Davis. So if you hear about it in the media, make your way over to the north end of the Physical Science Building and take a peak. You can be assured that you'll be one of the few in the world to ever see and smell a plant such as this.