Foul-smelling flower expected to bloom at Myriad Gardens

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A rare but foul-smelling flower is expected to bloom soon at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City.<br/><br/>The Titan arum is expected to blossom in a few weeks and would

Wednesday, June 22nd 2005, 12:23 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A rare but foul-smelling flower is expected to bloom soon at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City.

The Titan arum is expected to blossom in a few weeks and would be only the fifth cultivated Titan arum to bloom this year. Only about five dozen Titans have bloomed worldwide since it was first cultivated in 1889.

But the flower is also known as the "corpse flower" because of its foul odor that's compared to rotting animal flesh.

The blooming is expected to attract a crowd. Recent blossoms of Titans in San Francisco, London and Miami, Florida, have attracted thousands.

The Myriad received its Titan five years ago from a Baltimore doctor who enjoyed a visit to the botanical garden.

[photo courtesy NewsOk.com]