Corpse flower blooms at Smith College's botanical garden

Last week we told you about the corpse flower at Smith College's Botanic Garden in Northampton that was set to bloom. And now, 22 News reporter Areta Odaya joins us live in studio to share an update and you got a whiff. Ciara, the Botanic Garden of Smith College had many people interested in the official bloom of the corpse flower before a limited time only. The corpse flower was enclosed and scentless just last week, but now it's on a 24-hour bloom cycle that started this morning. The reason for the stinky odor is because flies are its pollinators and the flower lures them in by mimicking smell. For a flower, it sure didn't smell like one. Well, more like the opposite. I smelled it a little and then when I came up to it, it smelled really like trash, like diapers. But I'm glad I came here, especially on today that it bloomed. It's the world's largest freestanding flower and can reach up to 15 feet tall. It is part of the aeroid family and originates from Sumatra, Indonesia. To me, I think the smell of trash is one way to describe it, but another good one was the smell of a dead mouse. Tomorrow is your last chance to check out the corpse flower. Until next year, working for you, Areta Odaya, 22 News.