The Corpse Flower in full bloom. Photo: Colleen Neff
The Corpse Flower in full bloom. Photo: Colleen Neff

Trudy, the corpse flower at UC Botanical Gardens, is blooming.

The Sumatran plant, officially called Amorphophallus titanum or titan arum, started to open around 8 p.m. Saturday July 25, according to the UC Botanical Garden’s Facebook page.

Berkeley photographer Colleen Neff visited the garden Sunday morning and said the flower had revealed a beautiful purple skirt. Trudy should remain in bloom for a few more days.

Titan arum are are nicknamed corpse flowers because they emit a smell like a decaying object as they are blooming. Neff said on her Facebook page that Trudy smelled like a dead mouse rather than a rotting cow. The smell of the flower is already receding, according to botanists. The flower, which will stay blooming for a few days, is already “beginning to go limp,” according to the UC Botanical Garden Facebook page.

The Corpse Flower at UC Botanical Gardens is in bloom, with a beautiful purple flower. Photo: Colleen Neff
The Corpse Flower at UC Botanical Gardens is in bloom, with a beautiful purple flower. Photo: Colleen Neff

Garden officials are expecting so many visitors that they set up a free shuttle that runs between the garden and the parking lot of the Lawrence Hall of Science. The shuttle, which runs until 6 p.m., will pick up passengers at the parking machines. The UC Botanical Garden will remain open until 7 p.m. today.

Trudy around 8 p.m. Saturday July 25, just as she is starting to bloom. Photo: UC Botanical Garden
Trudy around 8 p.m. Saturday July 25, just as she is starting to bloom. Photo: UC Botanical Garden
On Friday, there were long lines of people waiting to see Trudy, the corpse flower. Photo: Colleen Neff
On Friday, there were long lines of people waiting to see Trudy, the corpse flower. Photo: Colleen Neff
Alison said, "It stinks."
Alison said, “It stinks.”
Alison said, “It stinks.”
UC Botanical Garden officials cut into Trudy the corpse flower to extract her pollen. The flower will turn from female to male in the next day. Photo: Janet Rudolph
UC Botanical Garden officials cut into Trudy the corpse flower to extract her pollen. The flower will turn from female to male in the next day. Photo: Janet Rudolph
There are hundreds of tiny flowers inside Trudy, both male and female. Photo: Janet Rudolph
There are hundreds of tiny flowers inside Trudy, both male and female. Photo: Janet Rudolph

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Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman...