It Stinks in Here!!!
he giant Titan arum or the (Amorphophallus titanum) rarely “blooms” when not in it’s natural habitat in Sumatra, Indonesia. But it has again, just in time for the July 4th influx of visitors.
The massive plant’s flower is about 5 feet tall and its leaves can grow to 18 feet in length. It blooms on an unpredictable schedule once every few years. But when it does, hold your nose for the next few days. The plant reeks of rotten meat, nature’s way of attracting beetles to pollinate itself.
You can see smell the Titan for just the next couple days at the U.S. Botanic Gardens in DC.
And don’t miss the other 4,000 less ”fragrant” plants on display.
U.S. Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Avenue, SW - across from the U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC
Dates and Hours - Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission - Admission is free.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Federal Center SW - Orange or Blue lines
Parking - Weekday street parking is tough, but is easier on weekends when the government employees aren’t on the Hill.
Photo - Courtesy of U.S. Botanic Gardens _____________________________________________________
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Reagan Nat Arpt, VA
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:10 pm
P.U.!
July 3rd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I think I’ll pass! I can’t imagine any visitors there for the next few days!
July 4th, 2007 at 10:16 am
You would be surprised. Last time, visitors flocked to this (kids love this “yucky” kind of stff.
I’m sure there’s a joke here (somewhere) about the visitors being members of Congress leaving the floor of the house to visit the stinky plant so that they can get get a breath of fresh air or something (the garden is just across the street from the Capitol). But it’s the 4th and I think my humor brain cells are on vacation.
November 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
[...] yesterday by Jon at the DC Traveler that the mighty Titan Arum has begun blooming at the US Botanic Garden. He was, no doubt, tipped [...]