A titan arum, or what is commonly known as a corpse flower, is about to bloom at the McMaster Biology Greenhouse.

The plant, which is also the world’s tallest, is already about four feet in height and continues to grow.

The corpse flower’s scent is similar to that of rotting flesh and can be detected by humans from up to a mile away. The smell, however, isn’t meant for us, but for insects like carrion beetles and flesh flies.

The plant originates in the high heat and humidity of the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. Its large purple flower grows upwards of five to six feet tall and can take many years to bloom, and will only bloom for a couple of days.

The flowering of another titan arum in 2015 attracted thousands of people to campus.

You can see – and smell – the corpse flower Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The greenhouse will also adjust its hours according to when the plant blooms.

For updates and posts about the corpse plant, follow McMaster Biology Greenhouse on Instagram: @mcmasterbiogreenhouse.
A time-lapse video of the corpse flower which bloomed on campus in 2015: