Perry the Corpse Flower in bloom during July of 2010 (Photo by Stacia Vogel).
Perry the Corpse Flower, and the rest of the Gustavus Adolphus College community, hosted more than 5,000 visitors during the weekend of July 23-25, 2010. To see a brief video that captures images and comments from Perry visitors and volunteers, scroll down to the end of this article.
People came from near and far to see Perry’s second bloom in history. This rare, nearly 7-foot-tall flower located in the College’s Nobel Hall of Science greenhouse, started to open and emit its repulsive odor at about 11 p.m. Thursday, July 22; reached its peak on Friday night between 10 p.m. and Midnight; drew flies and curious visitors all day on Saturday; and then began its natural decline with obvious signs of wilting and less odor on Sunday, July 25.
Found in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, the Corpse Flower (formally named Amorphophallus titanum) is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. The name comes from the repulsive scent it emits during its bloom.
Planted in 1993, Perry produced an inflorescence in May 2007 — the first Amorphophallus titanum (or Titan arum) to bloom in Minnesota.
The Corpse Flower came to the College when Professor of Chemistry Brian O’Brien received 20 seeds from a San Francisco physician named James Symon. After years of careful cultivation, the plant bloomed for the first time in 2007.
Go online to gustavus.edu/go/corpseflower for more information about Perry, including a live webcam, a live video stream, informational videos, a blog, photos, and more.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510
Perry is one hunk of a plant!
It’s so interesting for me to see at least three corpse flowers are blooming almost at the same time; Lois in Huston, Perry here, as you know, and the one without particular name in Tokyo.
http://www.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/koishikawa/+Amorphophallus/+A.titanum2010/titanum.html
Thanks for growing and sharing Perry. The smell was pretty bad, but the experience was unforgettable.
Heard and saw stories of Perry on Kare 11 and KS95 (94.5) radio station! Big news!
Great video summarizing the weekend viewing and various reactions/comments of Perry. Thank you.
Thank you so very much for the wonderful internet coverage of Perry. Many here in Houston fascinated by Lois for the past several weeks were equally transfixed by Perry. Often we had webcams of each running on our screens virtually 24 hours a day. (One tweet, no doubt speaking for many, read, “I’m having coffee with Lois and a bagel with Perry.”) They’re practically members of the family, and will be missed acutely. I can’t wait for the next blooming of the Titans, certain it will be just as awe-inspiring. Thanks again for sharing Perry online with us: what an enthralling trip it’s been! …Sweet dreams, Perry! 😉