By DeAndria Turner and Chris Luther
Published: Jun. 18, 2018 at 3:28 PM CDT|Updated: Jun. 18, 2018 at 6:13 PM CDT
OXFORD, MS (WMC) - On Saturday morning, Ole Miss'third corpse flower bloomed in theThad Cochran Research Center.
Thesix-foot-tallplant, Amorphophallustitanum(titan arum), is known as the corpse flower because of itsuniquesmell.Itis said to smell like rotting flesh. It smells that wayin order toattractflies that help pollinate theflower.
Thecorpseflowerisoneof the largest unbranched flowering plants in the world and blooms once every 7-10 years.
The bloom is over, which means the smell that gives its name is completely gone. But for the researchers atOle Miss, now the work begins.
Commonly found in Indonesia and Malaysia, this plant is extremely rare in the United States.
Only a handful of cities have one, and Oxford is one of them.
Memphis also has its very own corpse flower. The flower is at MemphisBotanicGarden, butvisitorswho want to take awhiffof the smelly planthave towait several more years.
"In the wild, they are growing in plenty in the hot warm, tropical climates, and they reach the height of sometimes 10, 20 feet in height," said Lal Jayaratna, a botanist at University of Mississippi.
The Corpse Plant only blooms once every 7 to 10 years. Over the weekend, this plant finally bloomed, bringing in crowds to see it! The process only lasts for around 24 hours.
During bloom, the corpse plant releases a strong, unpleasant odor, which is where it gets its name.
"It smells like rotting meat or something," Jayaratna said. "That's why it's called corpse flower. Some people like that smell but most people they don't like it, when they come to see it, everybody comes with closed nose and all that."
"The smell is to attract the bugs for pollination," said Dr. Ikhlas Khan, director of National Center for Natural Products Research.
It's that odor as well as the pollen of the corpse plant that researchers at the Ole Miss School of Pharmacy are studying to see if this plant known for a smell of death, can help medically save or improve lives.
"We are trying to see," Dr. Khan said. "I mean it's not really used as a medicinal plant, but we are investigating if there's anything there that can be use chemically."
With three total corpse plants at the School of Pharmacy, the research is far from over, although the bloom for this particular plant is.
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As a seasoned botanist and enthusiast in the field, I can attest to the fascinating world of plant biology, and my extensive knowledge allows me to delve into the intricacies of a specific botanical event mentioned in the article by DeAndria Turner and Chris Luther, published on June 18, 2018. This article centers around an extraordinary botanical occurrence: the blooming of Ole Miss's third corpse flower in the Thad Cochran Research Center.
The plant in question, Amorphophallus titanum, commonly known as the titan arum or corpse flower, is a species renowned for its unique characteristics. Standing at an impressive six feet tall, the corpse flower earns its name from the distinctive smell it emits, akin to rotting flesh. This odor serves a specific purpose in nature, acting as an attractant for flies, which play a crucial role in pollinating the flower.
The titan arum is among the largest unbranched flowering plants globally, and its blooming is a rare spectacle, occurring only once every 7-10 years. The article notes that the bloom has concluded, and with it, the unpleasant odor that characterizes the corpse flower has dissipated.
The geographic rarity of this plant in the United States is emphasized, with only a handful of cities boasting such specimens. The article mentions the prevalence of corpse flowers in Indonesia and Malaysia, highlighting the stark contrast with the hot, tropical climates in which they thrive in the wild.
The piece touches on the transient nature of the bloom, lasting approximately 24 hours, and captures the reactions of onlookers who come to witness this captivating botanical event, albeit with closed noses due to the foul scent.
Furthermore, the article explores the scientific endeavors surrounding the corpse flower at Ole Miss, specifically within the School of Pharmacy. Researchers are shown to be studying both the odor and pollen of the corpse plant to investigate potential medicinal applications. Dr. Ikhlas Khan, the director of the National Center for Natural Products Research, emphasizes the chemical exploration of the plant's properties for potential medicinal benefits.
In conclusion, the article provides a glimpse into the rarity, allure, and scientific intrigue surrounding the blooming of the corpse flower at Ole Miss, weaving together elements of botany, ecology, and medical research. The convergence of these aspects showcases the multifaceted nature of the titan arum and the broader field of plant science.
