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Corpse Flower Starts To Bloom At University Of Rhode Island

The immense corpse flower started to bloom — and stink — Wednesday.

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The University of Rhode Island's corpse flower has begun to bloom, the school announced. (Courtesy of the University of Rhode Island/ Anna Gray)

KINGSTON, RI — The University of Rhode Island's corpse flower has begun to bloom, according to the school.

"After welcoming a steady stream of interested visitors, the University of Rhode Island’s Horridge Conservatory has announced that its resident corpse flower (Titan Arum) is beginning to bloom," the university said on its website. "Its flowering structure will be around for just about a day before dying back, so don’t delay on visiting if you want to see it."

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The corpse flower is the "largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, boasts a powerful stink," and only blooms for two or three days once every two to three years, according to the United States Botanic Garden.

"The bloom can grow up to 9 feet tall!" the botanic garden said.

The university invited to public to stop by the URI greenhouse to take a look at — and a smell of — the corpse flower.

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