The Biological Sciences Greenhouse has been fortunate to have multiple bloomings of the Titan Arum, aka, the corpse flower. Now, they have its smaller but also smelly cousin, the Voodoo Lily. So for those with sensitive noses, ASCTech has set up another streaming video feed to allow them to enjoy the flower without the smell.

Joan E. Leonard, Program Manager at the Plant Growth Facilities, regards the 98 Voodoo Lilies that an Ohio State alum loaned to the ASC Plant Growth Facilities as a wonderful addition and something fun. “They show that nature can be mischievous,” she says. She doesn’t even mind the smell. It’s less powerful than the Titan, on a per plant basis, which was so strong that it stayed with Leonard even after she left the lab. “You have to shower to get rid of it.”

The Voodoo Lilies featured on the ASCTech video feed are “common houseplants that are relatives of the Titan Arum, in the same family and genus,” says Leonard. The main differences are in the flower and stalk sizes. The Titan has a huge flower and short stalk, whereas the Voodoo Lily has a long (up to 5’) stalk and a small flower.

Video feeds from ASCTech have been helpful in letting web users know about both the Titan Arum and the Voodoo Lily. With its short blooming cycle (often just a few days), thousands of users kept careful tabs on the Titans as they neared blooming. “[The video feed] helped people who couldn't visit the facility,” says Leonard. “The video feed was a remarkable success,” says Mike Kaylor, “because it allowed us to share the experience with other universities. It’s all about outreach. We were even contacted by the Today show about the Titan.”

You can video the Voodoo Lily streaming video link as they start to sprout and bloom. With their estimated blooming date of around Valentine’s Day, the Voodoo Lilies might even make an unusual date night for flower enthusiasts.