Dear all; The odor of Amorppophallus various widely from species to species being variously described as 'sweet'and 'fruity' to 'disgusting'. More important the smell varies from person to person. Helicodiceros a Mediterranean aroid relative is commonly called the 'Dead Horse arum" both from the look of the inflorescence and the major odor. Last summer mine bloomed and I found it only mildly offensive, but all others who cam even vaguely close were very grossed out. Time of day and phase of bloom also vary so that stinky Dracunculus one day is odorless the next. There were many recent reports of the Giant Arum (Amorph. titanum) blooming in greenhouses across the US and world wide. Every report that I read said that the smell ranged from none to mild to staggering. Huntington Gardens had a bloom last year (I think). There's two about to bloom in the Fairchild Tropical Gardens (Florida). And finally real amorph nuts should look in on Aroid-L a group devoted to these and other aroids. I recognize the names of most correspondents from this list. And I'm not an Amorph nut (have less than a dozen) but Arum now that's another story. They are coming up strong right now and surprised to see how hardy some have proven this winter- A hygrophyllum, A rupicola, A byzantinum as well as the usual nigrum , orientale, various italicum, maulatum etc. If you want to join Aroid-L drop me a note. Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 E-fax 419-781-8594 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +