Flowers produce scents by secreting compounds from their tissues called osmophores. Flies are extremely attracted to these smells because they are tricked into believing they have found a decomposed corpse or some kind of poo. As you know, flies and other insects are attracted to horrible smells; leave your trash lying around for a few days and you will understand. The stench of carrion, or dead animals, is emitted from the plant for the sole purpose of attracting insects for pollination.

The chemical compounds called putrescine and cadaverine are responsible for the stench. If you used a sophisticated piece of equipment called a GCMS (gas chromatograph mass spectrometer), like you see on CSI, to identify these compounds, or amino acids, they would have the same chemical makeup of an actual corpse! Insects can't tell the difference at all. I watch the blow flies on my A. konjac and they seem real happy.

Many of the 200 and counting species of Amorphophallus produce lots of different odors ranging from rotting meat, poop, stinky cheese, or a horrible gas leak. The flower or inflorescence doesn't need to be a big one to reek! A. titanum (aka titan) is huge and does its fair share of polluting the neighborhood. A. bulbifer is a fraction of titan's size, however, it holds its own in the stinky department. I went to my friend Ron's greenhouse during the flowering period and the smell about knocked me on my butt. This species is well known for its gaseous stench. A. bulbifer has a beautiful pinkish inflorescence and people automatically want to put their noses in the middle of the bloom and inhale deeply. Maybe you can even point out the beauty of the flower and smile with the knowledge of what is coming next.

Amorphophallus aren't the only genus of plants that can put out a mean stink. I also collect Stapelia, Aristolochia and a few others that I love to put next to the fence of my damn noisy neighbors. I have some images of them in the Strange and Unusual Plants portion of the site.

Remember, they don't all smell bad. Some smell of carrots, bananas, or spices. Also, the smelly ones only smell for a couple of hours in the evening during the blooming period. The strongest smells are emitted when the female flowers are ready for pollination and when the male flowers are ready to give it to her good.

Next, read about collector Jim Rumrill's helful hints