Giant 'Penis Plant' Blooms in Ghent Botanical Garden

The Ghent University Botanical Garden is currently hosting a rare spectacle: the blooming of a giant Arum lily, a colossal plant measuring an impressive 2.29 meters. This extraordinary event, which typically lasts less than 72 hours, is drawing crowds eager to witness the phenomenon.

The plant, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, earns its common names from its unique characteristics. The "corpse flower" moniker comes from the powerful, pungent odor of rotting meat it emits. This smell is a strategic adaptation, designed to attract carrion flies, which are essential for the plant's pollination.

Adding to its notoriety, the plant's distinctive shape and its Latin name have led to the nickname "penis plant." Visitors can marvel at this unusual bloom in the tropical greenhouse, with extended hours offered to accommodate the public's interest. The botanical garden is offering free entry during the bloom, with special late openings to allow more people to experience this fleeting natural wonder.