Corpse Flower operation
Helping Mother Nature along: Officials induce labor to help Lois the CorpseFlower bloom
Corpse Flower Lois and her banana bagPhoto by Rachel Hanley
HMNS has added a curtain to Lois' boudoirPhoto by Rachel Hanley
As a city holds its breath in anticipation of the blooming of Corpse Flower Lois, Museum of Natural Science officials are trying to help Mother Nature along.
But contrary to rumors that have flown around all day: The flower has not been sprayed or injected with hormones.
Here's what happened: Horticulturalist Zach Stayton made a minor triangular incision in Lois' base to stimulate a release of the hormone ethylene, which is responsible for blooming. In human terms, it's like ... having sex to induce labor. No pills are taken, no shots are given, it's all natural.
The incision is normally used to pollinate the flower — a chief goal of many institutions. It's usually performed earlier, so what looks like a delay in Lois' blooming may simply be the result of no incision.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science decided against pollination because it wanted the bloom to stay open longer — three to four days versus a few hours. Institutions that pollinate usually have corums or research as their goal — not allowing a a whole city to see a rare, beautiful (and stinky) flower.
With her delay, the museum decided to perform the procedure sans pollination. Stayton believes this is the "boost it needs."
If you've watched the webcam today you've seen the white bag attached to the plant — no, it's not a poop sack — it's filled with rotten bananas. The banana bag covers the incision and as the fruit rots, more ethylene is released. Stayton explained that since "she is taking longer than originally expected" it was time to try a method from the "horticulturist bag of tricks." The ethylene from the incision combined with the bananas, should compel Lois to blossom this weekend.
Another change that's been added is a curtain over the entrance way to the room to increase humidity. That room is quickly becoming one hot, smelly, mess — a tropical plants heaven.
Tonight, the museum will close at midnight but opens again Saturday at 9 a.m. If you plan on going tonight, beware: it's going to be a busy evening with Mixers and Elixirs and Miller Outdoor's Little Shop of Horrors.
Read more about Zac and today's procedure here.
