corpse flower

noun

variants or less commonly corpse plant

: a tropical perennial herb (Amorphophallus titanum) of the arum family that is native to Sumatra and produces a tall, erect, yellowish-white spadix partly enclosed by a showy, white-spotted, green spathe which opens during bloom to reveal a reddish-purple interior and emit an odor of rotting flesh

Part of the reason the corpse flower is drawing such big crowds is because it rarely blooms. It is also one of the biggest, stinkiest plants on the planet …

—Lara Sorokanich

called also titan arum

Examples of corpse flower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The corpse flowers at the Mitchell Park Domes are in bloom. —Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 16 June 2024

Elsewhere in Chicagoland, tensions flew between two aldermen, and corpse flower fans were waiting for a stinky blossom. —Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024

This week, climate change brought the nation a heat dome and, who knows, is probably responsible for salmonella cucumbers, the corpse flower and, ugh, this. —Holly J. Morris, NPR, 7 June 2024

In addition to their unique scent, corpse flowers can grow quite large. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 28 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above