STORY BY PEG WEST / PHOTOS BY CORY MORSE

GVSU's corpse flower caused an unexpected stir this summer when it produced for the second time its dramatic, stinky bloom way earlier than anyone expected.

The Amorphophallus titanum in the Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse — affectionately known as "The Beast" — bloomed for the first time in 2022, causing a sensation on campus as thousands experienced the rotting-flesh odor emitted by the rare tropical flower.

Normally, the plant produces the bloom every seven to 10 years. So the expectation after that blooming was that the plant would spend at least the rest of this decade uneventfully ensconced in the tropical room of the greenhouse, its home since 2015 when it was donated by Tim Strickler, professor emeritus of biomedical sciences.

But when it broke dormancy in June and was growing its expected vegetation, it then started growing the unexpected bloom. Christina Hipshier, greenhouse supervisor, knew they weren't staffed during the slower time on campus to once again accommodate the crowds that would want to visit.

Biology Department representatives asked the team at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park if that venue could host and display the plant so the community could experience this rare flower. Meijer Gardens officials agreed.

For a few days, The Beast fascinated nearly 14,500 visitors, including more
than 5,800 alone on June 18, its peak bloom day (the bloom is only open 24-36 hours). The visitor numbers far exceeded the summer daily average, Meijer Gardens officials said.

The wait to see the flower, which produces the stench to attract pollinators such as carrion beetles and flesh flies, reached several hours. In fact, on the peak bloom day, the final visitor entered the line at 7:30 p.m. and didn’t leave the building until 11:30 p.m.

And then, the fleeting flower started dying back, making a return trip to its Allendale Campus home a short time later. We now wait to see if The Beast has more surprises in its flowering timetable.