Why some flowers smell like death

These stinkers give off the vilest smells imaginable

Amorphophallus titanum
(Image credit: (Ted Soqui/Corbis))

It's great to stop and smell the roses, but there are certain flowers you definitely don't want to get a whiff of. While many plants use sweet smells and nectar to attract insects and other animal pollinators, some employ a different tactic: They exude the putrid odors of feces and rotting animal carcasses.

The revolting smells lure in flies, dung beetles, and other bugs that feast on and lay their eggs in nasty things. To them, the smells are like just baked cookies or fresh laundry — too enticing to pass up. But when the disappointed insects figure out the flowers aren't what they're looking for, they still pick up or drop off some pollen before moving on.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up