The chemistry of the corpse flower's stink - Bytesize Science

What's eight feet tall, has a creepy nickname and can be smelled from miles away? It's the rare titan arum plant, aka the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum, which just bloomed in the United States Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC. The plant has an unpredictable blooming cycle that lasts years, and the corpse-like odor it emits attracts pollinating bugs like flies and dung beetles. In this video, the Botanic Garden's public science educator Todd Brethauer explains the chemistry behind this legendary plant's potent stink.
Produced by the American Chemical Society
Video by Sean Parsons

[@astero8950]

i have a lot of that flower in my backyard when rainy season, because i live in sumatra :)

[@tonymu2976]

I used to work in a toxicology lab. Occasionaly we got autopsy blood, it smelled just like the Titan Arum

[@richardmcleod4658]

Great, clear commentary - fun!

[@projectwaveform]

Awesome info

[@Snyderbl2]

We've got one of these at UC Santa Barbara that is about to go off. Might have to check it out if its really a "once in a lifetime" kind of deal

[@reesie4422]

We had 2 bloom at the Missouri Botanical Garden last year. Pretty cool. Didn't smell as bad as I expected. Don't get me wrong, it's not wonderful lol.

[@xdsx3]

Check out the genus Rafflesia. It has similar characteristics as this plant. Also nicknamed the Corpse Flower.

[@clearheadedness]

more plant chemistry please

[@cagammon]

Cool story Brent!

[@RHoltslander]

Why do they show a picture of a dung beetle when they mention the pollinators. Couldn't they find a picture of something that would actually pollinate this thing?

[@dutatobelo]

That is raflesia arnoldi or call 'BUNGA BANGKAI' in Indonesia.. i think the original name of that flower cant replace,, to respect where cit come from...

[@WhiskeyTango2]

A smelly plant gets more friends than me :/

[@BeeRich33]

You can't change carbohydrates into protein. You need Nitrogen fixation or fertilizer.

[@IrsaRezaldy]

I'm Indonesian, it's name Bunga Bangkai. Bunga=Flowers Bangkai=Corpse... very smell when it blooms

[@MyLamington]

10/10 was educated

[@mikep4216]

Science is cool!

[@davidromo9371]

Was he holding poop?

[@annkinne997]

For Angiosperms, they're latin, usually for what the flower will look like.

[@Strr27]

Yay its "bunga bangkai"

[@raymcdougal420]

Im proud to be insonesian people! Ame to that

[@prettyjulu]

00:18 to 00:25 am I immature for finding that funny in a dirty way

[@MRCHAIRES0582]

Scientific names are so absurd ! where do they even come up with this names ??

[@tonymu2976]

Taxonomy is a very difficult part of biological science

[@Chronosonder]

This guy sounds like a robot

[@legacyturbo8485]

Fake