After peak bloom today, UW's corpse flower to fade fast

The University of Washington Biology Department says the corpse flower that reached the peak of its smelly bloom early Thursday will die in a few days.

Graduate student Kelsey Byers worked through the night in the botanical garden greenhouse, collecting samples of the pungent odor.

The UW says scientists hope to identify the chemicals that cause the stench and compare them to the smell of an actual corpse.

The flower attracts pollinating insects by smelling like rotting meat. The research could lead to a better understanding of pollination.

The rare flower that blooms about every five years attracted hundreds of people to the greenhouse on the Seattle campus Wednesday to experience its smell.