Washington State University Vancouver associate professor of molecular biosciences Steve Sylvester planted the corpse flower seed 18 years ago at the Salmon Creek, Wash., campus. CREDIT: MOLLY SOLOMON/OPB

Rare Corpse Flower To Release Its Foul Stench At WSU Vancouver

By Molly Solomon July 13, 2019

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With the name corpse flower, this rare, tropical plant set to bloom at Washington State University Vancouver has quite the reputation to live up to.

“People describe the smell as a mix of rotten fish and dirty socks,” said Steve Sylvester, associate professor of molecular biosciences at the Salmon Creek, Washington, campus.

The native plant from Sumatra is also known by its scientific name, Amorphophallus titanium, but around these parts, the plant is fondly called Titan VanCoug.

“This is my baby,” Sylvester said, proudly adding that it grew two more inches overnight.

Sylvester raised Titan VanCoug from a small seed he planted 18 years ago. It started as a desk plant, but quickly outgrew the office. Sylvester eventually moved the plant to the main floor of the building.

“It was the only place on campus where the ceiling was tall enough,” he said.

Now, Titan VanCoug sits outside under a canopy as Sylvester and the rest of the campus wait for its green leaves to turn dark purple and unfurl, revealing its signature scent.

“We had to move it out of the building,” he said. “It’ll stink too much.”

At age 18, Titan is a bit of a late bloomer. Most corpse flowers bloom for the first time within 10 or 11 years. Sylvester said the plant was set to bloom several years ago, but some overzealous watering split the plant’s bulb into four and reset the entire growth process.

The flower is stinky with a purpose. Scientists say the smell and the dark red color are meant to resemble fresh meat to draw flies inside to help pollinate the flower.

Sylvester has been monitoring the plant closely and says once the color begins to darken, a four-day window will open for the bloom.

“I wake up in the night and worry about it,” he said. “But I’m really excited. I will be here with it for as much time as I can tolerate.”

Sylvester expects the corpse flower to bloom in the coming weeks. Then, visitors will have a brief 24 to 48-hour window to catch a whiff.

Visitors can see — and smell — Titan VanCoug outside Washington State University Vancouver’s Science and Engineering building, or simply watch the plant live via webcam and spare their noses.