Why do they smell this way?

To attract flies and beetles as pollinators

What is unusual about Rafflesia?

It has no leaves, stems or roots

What are starfish flowers?

Smelly succulent blooms from Africa

Carrion Flowers Quiz: Plants That Smell Like Rotting Meat

This carrion flowers quiz holds its nose to explore plants that smell like decay. Play 10 interactive questions on why rotten smells attract flies and beetles, sulfur compounds behind the stink, the leafless parasite Rafflesia, the towering titan arum, starfish flowers of South Africa, the dead horse arum that warms itself, meaty colors and pollinators that are tricked.

Start Carrion Flowers Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Smell
What do carrion flowers smell like?
Why
Why do they smell this way?
Chem
Which kind of compounds help cause the stink?
Trick
What do pollinators often get from these flowers?
Rafflesia
What is unusual about Rafflesia?
Titan
Which carrion flower has a huge spike-like bloom?
Star
What are starfish flowers?
Horse
Which carrion plant from Mediterranean islands warms itself?
Color
What colors do many carrion flowers have?
Eggs
What do some flies do on carrion flowers?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What do carrion flowers smell like?
Answer: Rotting meat
The smell can be strong.
Q2: Why do they smell this way?
Answer: To attract flies and beetles as pollinators
These insects seek decay.
Q3: Which kind of compounds help cause the stink?
Answer: Sulfur compounds
Some match those in rotting flesh.
Q4: What do pollinators often get from these flowers?
Answer: Little or nothing
They are deceived.
Q5: What is unusual about Rafflesia?
Answer: It has no leaves, stems or roots
It lives inside a vine.
Q6: Which carrion flower has a huge spike-like bloom?
Answer: Titan arum
It blooms rarely.
Q7: What are starfish flowers?
Answer: Smelly succulent blooms from Africa
They are Stapelia.
Q8: Which carrion plant from Mediterranean islands warms itself?
Answer: Dead horse arum
Heat helps spread the smell.
Q9: What colors do many carrion flowers have?
Answer: Meaty reds and browns
They look like flesh.
Q10: What do some flies do on carrion flowers?
Answer: Lay eggs that cannot survive
The larvae starve.

Blooms That Stink on Purpose

Carrion flowers smell like rotting meat. The stink comes from compounds, including sulfur compounds, similar to those in decaying flesh. It attracts flies and beetles that seek dead animals, and these insects become pollinators as they move between flowers.

Many carrion flowers also look meaty, with red and brown colors and wrinkled textures. Pollinators usually get little or nothing in return, and some flies even lay eggs on the flowers, where the larvae cannot survive.

Rafflesia has no leaves, stems or roots and lives inside a vine until it bursts into bloom. The titan arum raises a huge spike. Starfish flowers, Stapelia from Africa, are smelly succulent blooms, and the dead horse arum of Mediterranean islands warms itself to spread its scent and lure blowflies inside.

What This Quiz Teaches

Plant fans will enjoy these questions.

Why carrion flowers stink
Which insects they attract
What pollinators get
Which species are famous
How they look

Did You Know?

Smells peak when flowers open.
Botanic gardens draw crowds for blooms.
Some smell like dung instead.
Pipevines trap flies temporarily.
Scents can travel far on warm air.