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CBS News
31-07-2025
- CBS News
Stinky Corpse Flower blooms at the Huntington Library, but not for long
A putrid-smelling, not-so-dainty flower bloomed overnight in San Marino. The Huntington Library's Corpse Flower bloom emits the stench of rotten meat, and it attracts the curious who want to see and smell the rare plant. Its scent has also been likened to stinky cheese or boiled cabbage, but the window of opportunity to take it in is very brief, as the bloom lasts for less than 24 hours once every few years. The short-lived Corpse Flower bloom size is part of the plant's lure, but Huntington Library Associate Curator Brandon Tam says it's really about the odor, which also attracts natural pollinators like flesh flies. "Everyone's nose is a little different. But no one forgets the smell once you have smelled it," he said. The plant grows from a large corm, a bulb-like tuber under the soil, and is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, Indonesia. It can grow to more than 8 feet high and 4 feet in diameter. There has been a Corpse Flower in bloom 28 times at the museum. The first one at the Huntington was in 1999, and it was historic as it was the first recorded bloom in California, according to Tam. He said very few botanical gardens had the plant at the time, so it was the Huntington's mission to conserve and share them. "One of our core responsibilities as a botanical garden is to share plants, propagating and distributing rare species to help ensure that they aren't lost," Tam said. In honor of one of the most famous paintings housed at the museum, "The Blue Boy," this year's bloom is named "The Green Boy." The Huntington is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. Reservations are required Friday through Sunday.
Los Angeles Times
21-07-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
The return of stinky: How to see a corpse flower in L.A. that's ready to bloom
In the mysterious world of plants at the Huntington, it's that time of year again. The extremely rare — and extremely stinky — corpse flower is about to bloom. Sometime toward the end of this week, the plant is expected to unfurl at the San Marino institution and show off for just 24 to 48 hours. And it will smell for about that long too. 'It smells pretty bad,' said Brandon Tam, the Huntington's associate curator of orchids. People compare the odor to dead rats, gym socks and rotten eggs — hence the morbid name. But the smell is part of the plant's strategy, Tam said. In the wild, its stench lures pollinators like carrion beetles and flies, which are drawn to the smell of rotting flesh. At the Huntington, it also attracts people. Since 1999, the Huntington has been cultivating corpse flowers, giving visitors a chance to see this phenomenon without flying to Indonesia, where the plant is native. Over the years, the bloom has built a loyal following. 'It's incredible for the general public to be so invested in this plant,' Tam said, adding that generations of families have returned year after year to witness the bloom. In the wild, the plant blooms every four to six years, but at the Huntington, horticultural practices have reduced that interval to about two to three years. The plant is also massive. It can grow more than 12 feet tall, producing what is considered the largest unbranched flower structure in the world. What many people mistake for a single enormous flower is actually an inflorescence — a structure made up of hundreds of tiny flowers at the base. The female flowers open first, then the males a day later, to prevent self-pollination. When the bloom begins, it starts as a massive green bud and grows fast. As it approaches its full height, the growth rate accelerates to three to six inches per day. In the final days before the bloom, the pace slows again — a sign the plant is getting ready to open. 'You can come in every day and see this plant grow right before your eyes,' Tam said. When it finally opens, the outer leaf-like structure called a spathe peels back to reveal a maroon interior. The central spike, or spadix, heats up to help spread the smell. The odor tends to peak overnight and lingers into the morning hours when the garden opens, because its pollinators are active at night, Tam said. Typically, the bloom begins around 3 p.m. and reaches its peak in the early hours of the morning — sometimes 1 or 2 a.m. It will hold its shape into the next day before beginning to collapse. Afterward, the plant dies back and goes dormant. In a few months, a single leaf emerges, allowing the plant to photosynthesize and rebuild the energy needed for its next bloom, two to three years later. This year's bloom, the first of the season, is nicknamed 'Green Boy.' The name is a playful nod to Thomas Gainsborough's 'The Blue Boy,' one of the Huntington's famous paintings, and a reference to the plant's greener-than-usual spadix. Another bloom could follow later this season, depending on the plants' growth cycles. Tam said the timing for the blooms is always a guessing game. 'Every single year is a challenge to predict when the corpse flower will bloom,' Tam said. Fluctuating weather predicts when the plant will bloom, meaning when it's hotter, the plant grows a lot faster, Tam said. The Huntington has one of the largest collections of corpse flowers in North America, with 43 mature plants. That makes it a leader in conserving a species that is endangered in the wild. Fewer than 1,000 plants remain in Sumatra. 'Any plant that generates public attention is a good thing for us because we can leverage that to talk about all the other plants that aren't getting this attention,' said Sean C. Lahmeyer, the Huntington's associate director of botanical collections, conservation and research. Lahmeyer called the corpse flower 'a jumping-off point' for conversations about biodiversity. 'All of our living collections, things we have around us, including this plant, are the basis for our plant conservation program here at the Huntington,' Lahmeyer said. 'We want to ask ourselves: What are we doing with these plants while we have them alive?' The Huntington shares pollen and corms of the corpse flower with other botanical gardens, distributing hundreds of specimens to maintain genetic diversity, discourage poaching and strengthen conservation networks. The first U.S. corpse flower bloom occurred in 1937 at the New York Botanical Garden. Since then, more than 46 blooms have been recorded across the country, with the Huntington responsible for 27 blooms, according to the Huntington's website. 'The botanical gardens are special places where people can see plant diversity,' Lahmeyer said. ' ... It's meant for the public to come here and get wowed.' The summer bloom will be displayed in the Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory. For those who can't make it in person, there's a livestream on the Huntington's website. But for the full experience — the sight, the scale and yes, the smell — you'll have to see it for yourself. 'The motto of a lot of what we try to say here is 'plants are up to something,'' Tam said. 'And this is a great example.' The Huntington is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. Reservations are required Friday through Sunday and on holidays.
Edinburgh Live
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Antiques Roadshow's 103-year-old guest giggles 'what a compliment' after self-portrait gets top value
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow. An Antiques Roadshow guest offered a candid critique of a stunning portrait of herself, painted nearly a century ago. The beloved BBC daytime show journeyed to Derby Roundhouse for another episode, with art expert Philip Mould on hand to meet a variety of guests and their impressive artwork. One such guest brought along a yellow-tinted portrait of a woman, prompting Mould to comment: "Sometimes it is the defining colour that gives a portrait its name. "The Blue Boy, The Pink Boy, and perhaps she should be called The Yellow Girl. "She's a wonderful colour. What can you tell me about her? Is she yours?" The guest replied: "Well she belongs to the family, she hangs in my parents' house normally. "I know the artist was Matilda Mulvey", she added, as the expert identified the artist's signature in the bottom left corner. (Image: BBC) Mould noted: "And Matilda Mulvey is a very interesting phenomenon, because she is part of the new wave of female artists that are beginning to right the male balance that dominated art history right through the 17th, 18th and early 19th Century." When asked if she enjoyed looking at the painting, the guest remarked: "Well I suppose I've grown up looking at it so I don't think perhaps I took much notice of it when I was little. "Now that I'm older and friends see it, it's a big picture, and I suppose people say 'oh wow, that's exciting' and because obviously she is part of the family so that makes it more exciting." She continued to explain that the portrait was painted around 1930 and the woman depicted in it was her very own grandmother. "I was looking for the family resemblance and I think I can see it actually", Mould observed. "Now, the big question is, what did the grandmother think of it, because it really is quite a striking 1930s image." The guest cheerfully responded: "It is striking and well, we can just ask her herself what she thinks of it." Mould revealed that they had the "astonishing opportunity" to chat with the woman in the painting, leading them to a seating area where he was introduced to both the woman's mother and grandmother. He expressed: "I have to say it's absolutely wonderful to meet the subject of a picture like this. "And you are the mother, the grandmother and we've just spoken to the granddaughter! "So we've got all three of you here. Now, can you recall being painted by Matilda?" "Oh yes, she was my aunt and she was well known in art circles but not to the general public", the grandmother confirmed. He enquired if she remembered the yellow outfit, to which she confessed that she "loved" the dress. (Image: BBC) "And what did you feel like being painted, seeing yourself emerge on the canvas like that?", he asked. She shared: Oh yes it was quite fun. I think she had three sittings with me and I liked her, we got on well." The guest wasn't completely charmed by the painting upon first seeing it, as she remarked: "I know when I saw it first I said 'my arms are too long, they look like a gorilla's.'" Mould pointed out humorously: "You have got quite long arms though, it's true, but you have got quite long arms in real life." During the segment, Mould gingerly probed about her age, leading to the revelation that she was a sprightly 103-years-old, herself unsure whether the painting commemorated her 21st birthday or her wedding. Bringing his assessment to a close, Mould expressed: "Well the painting itself, I think is wonderful. You've brought it to life in an astonishing and novel way." He then appraised the portrait, valuing it between £3,000 and £4,000, adding sentimentally that it was not just about the object but that he was actually "in awe" of her. Beaming from ear-to-ear, the pensioner exclaimed: "Oh thank you! Thank you, what a compliment!" Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
