Mount Holyoke’s corpse flower blooms again, drawing crowds to its ‘rotting flesh’ stench
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) – Crowds gathered at Mount Holyoke College’s Talcott Greenhouse to witness the rare bloom of “Pangy,” a corpse flower known for its powerful odor resembling decaying flesh. The tropical plant, native to Sumatra, blooms infrequently and emits the pungent scent to attract pollinating flies and beetles. Visitors described the smell as everything from rotting eggs and compost to stinky diapers, while others traveled hours to experience the fleeting spectacle. Pangy first bloomed at the college in 2023. Botanic garden director Tom Clark said the dramatic plant offers a unique opportunity to engage the public with the diversity and adaptations of the plant world.
[Context: The report discusses the blooming of the corpse flower “Pangy” at Mount Holyoke College and the strong smell it emits to attract pollinators.] [Fact Check: The information about Pangy blooming at the college in 2023 might be a typo as the current year is 2026.]
