Belgium gets kinky

STEED · 08-07-08, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Giant smelly flower puts on sex show in Belgium

MEISE, Belgium (Reuters) - It's one of the world's largest flowers, it stinks of rotting meat or rancid cheese and looks very much like a giant penis.

The Amorphophallus Titanum -- literally "the giant strangely shaped penis" -- has been attracting big crowds at the National Botanic Garden of Belgium on the outskirts of Brussels.

The rare phallus-like flower that springs from the plant only survives about 72 hours and its timing is completely unpredictable, said Gert Ausloos, head of education at the garden.

Auloos called it "a botanical superstar". "It's there for a short time, it's glamorous, it's big, it produces something special ... it's star quality."

Also known as Corpse Flower, it releases a strong smell to attract pollinators, thought to be sweat bees.

Thousands queued to see -- and smell -- the 1.6 metre tall specimen on Thursday.

Visitors compared the smell to rotten fish, others to rotten meat or old cheese.

"It smells like a mix of rotten fish and rotten meat. It's quite impressive!" said visitor Frederic Lebreux.

"I don't know, maybe like a Camembert," said Rachel Kaiembe.

First discovered in 1878 in western Sumatra, the plant was first cultivated in Europe at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, in London in 1889. Because of its appearance, Victorian women were kept from viewing it.

(Reporting by Marine Hass; writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by David Brunnstrom)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200808...t-b7e5c6f.html

Poo, what a pong.

Tango589 · 08-07-08, 01:39 PM

People get excited over the most peculier things.

nikimcbee · 08-07-08, 01:50 PM

It keeps the biologists busy.

FIREWALL · 08-07-08, 02:28 PM

"I don't know, maybe like a Camembert," said Rachel Kaiembe.

I think she's confuseing it with "Fumunda cheese" :p :rotfl:

Jimbuna · 08-07-08, 03:09 PM

Just so long as kids aren't involved

AntEater · 08-07-08, 03:13 PM

Saw one in RL a few years ago in Frankfurts's Palm Garden.

STEED · 08-07-08, 05:14 PM

I surprised that some charmless Berk has not thrown a sheet over the plant on the grounds of.

bookworm_020 · 08-08-08, 12:02 AM

They had the first one of these bloom here in Sydney a couple of years back. Then early this yeay they had two bloom within days of each other. There were long lines to see the flower, with a time limit of 15 minutes.

Not many people tried to exceed the time limit!:rotfl:

08-07-08, 01:39 PM	#2
Tango589 Still crazy as ever! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 3,377 Downloads: 180 Uploads: 1	People get excited over the most peculier things. __________________ Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...

08-07-08, 01:50 PM	#3
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	It keeps the biologists busy. __________________

08-07-08, 02:28 PM	#4
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	"I don't know, maybe like a Camembert," said Rachel Kaiembe. I think she's confuseing it with "Fumunda cheese" :p :rotfl: __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

08-07-08, 03:09 PM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,788 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Just so long as kids aren't involved __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-07-08, 03:13 PM	#6
AntEater Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 936 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Saw one in RL a few years ago in Frankfurts's Palm Garden. __________________

08-07-08, 05:14 PM	#7
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	I surprised that some charmless Berk has not thrown a sheet over the plant on the grounds of. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

08-08-08, 12:02 AM	#8
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	They had the first one of these bloom here in Sydney a couple of years back. Then early this yeay they had two bloom within days of each other. There were long lines to see the flower, with a time limit of 15 minutes. Not many people tried to exceed the time limit!:rotfl: __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

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