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The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Massive 'phallus' flower blooms for 1st time in Canada

By: The Canadian Press

Posted: 05/5/2012 3:51 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 05/6/2012 5:20 PM

An amorphophallus titanum, or 'phallus' flower, is pictured in Basel, Switzerland, on April 23, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Keystone, Georgios Kefalas

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - A massive, suggestively shaped flower more than two metres high is blooming in Niagara Falls, Ont. _ the first time it has flowered in Canada.

Experts at the Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse say one specimen of the rare Amorphophallus titanum has opened.

But they say the bell-shaped plant won't last long and its centre spike has already started to droop.

By Sunday, it will likely have turned into a "tree-like stalk."

Experts say the unusual flower, whose name means "misshapen phallus," has bloomed in a botanical garden only 21 times.

The plant _ considered the tallest flower species in the world _ gives off a unique smell most often compared to rotting meat.

Parks staff say a second flower is expected to bloom in the coming weeks.

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