BOWLING GREEN – If you meandered into the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Greenhouse & Herbarium early last month, you may have smelled an abhorrent scent and wondered what in the world caused it.
“It smells like a dead rat in an old barn,” described greenhouse manager Evili Martins.
The konjac plant bloomed in early February, filling the air with an unpleasant gas. Konjac plants bloom only once a year, giving off a scent that attracts certain pollinating insects while repelling others.
Martins said the plant’s stench was strong enough to fill the whole greenhouse, though it only lingered for a day or two before dissipating.
According to graduate biology student Nancy Ransom, the plant gives off its scent because of warm cells, which heat the plant’s stamen, thus producing the scent.
The konjac has uses beyond making you wonder who broke wind, however.
Some Asian countries, such as China and Japan, have been eating the starchy bulb root of the plant, called corm, for hundreds of years. It can be made into noodles or simply eaten chopped and cooked.
The konjac is known by multiple names, including the voodoo lily, snake palm and elephant yam.
Originally native to Eastern Asia, the konjac was given to BGSU by a greenhouse at Ohio State University about 10 years ago. Martins said the plant is able to survive so far away from its country of origin because Eastern Asia and Bowling Green are both located in Zone 6, a reference to the Farmer’s Almanac, a book that details regional characteristics like soil type and temperature conditions. It details what makes particular places ideal for growing certain crops or plants.
Because the konjac’s home is so far away, having the plant at BGSU provides a unique opportunity for students to see it.
“It’s really special that we have this plant here at BG,” said Ransom. “People will drop everything to go see this flower bloom, and so it’s really cool that students have access to this anomaly of a flower.”
But students are not the only ones who benefit from the plant.
“We are trying to improve our collection and have things that students and the community can come and see and be like, wow, you don’t see these very often,” Martins said.
Ransom said Martins has been pushing to make the greenhouse and its plants more accessible to students and the public.
“The [previous] manager didn’t really allow guests into the greenhouse. But ever since Evili started her position, she’s been trying to integrate the students more into visiting the greenhouse and being a part of the greenhouse,” Ransom noted. “It was great to have the greenhouse open to visitors that wanted to see the konjac plant.”
Ransom said she likes the plant because of its uniqueness.
“It has a very interesting life cycle that I don’t think many flowers have,” she said. “It’s one of those instances where you have a very specialized pollinator for a flower. And I think that is super cool.”
Visitation by the general public is welcome. The greenhouse is also open for K-12 school tours. Hours can change each semester. Call 419-372-2375 for information or to arrange visiting times.
