*CorPsE pLaNt* Titan Arum Plant of Sumatra
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_re_us/stinky_plant
By JACOB ADELMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Nov 20,11:42 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Its scent has drawn comparisons to garbage and spoiled meat, but that isn't stopping crowds from flocking to see _and smell — an unusual plant in bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
The titan arum plant, nicknamed "corpse plant" for its rank smell, is attracting thousands of visitors during the day or two it remains in bloom.
"It's quite spectacular: the color and the form and the strong odor," said John Kress, chairman of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's botany department, which owns the plant. "I think that's what most people come to see. Or smell."
The long, conical bloom of the titan arum is believed to be the largest flower that doesn't grow on a tree. It has been known to grow 12 feet high in its native habitat on the island of Sumatra.
The specimen at the botanic garden, which began blooming early Sunday, is about 5 feet high.
Now that it's in bloom, the plant has also started emitting a smell that's drawn comparisons to garbage, spoiled meat, and rotting fish. But the plant's stench is actually the key to its survival: carrion beetles and other pollinators in its native Sumatra are attracted to the smell, Kress said.
"These beetles usually lay their eggs in rotting animals, so this plant pretends to be a dead animal," he said.
The smell also seems to be attracting visitors to the botanic garden. About 2,000 people had come to the garden to see the plant by Sunday afternoon, and at least 10,000 were expected by day's end.
Visitors are also interested in the plant because they are few chances to see one, Kress said. There are only about a dozen of the plants in the United States, he said.
A typical titan arum plant only blooms about once every five years. The one at the U.S. Botanic Garden is blooming for the first time at age 14.
Garden visitor Charles Miehm said he came to see the plant because it seemed like a rare opportunity.
"It's not as rancid as roadkill, but it's got a pretty potent smell," he said.
Worlds Largest Aquarium opens tommorrow in Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-21-aquarium_x.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/11/21/ga.aquarium.tourism/
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=1311541&page=1
ATLANTA, Nov. 18, 2005 — The whale sharks are kings of the 6-million-gallon tank, their presence palpable even before they emerge from the murky darkness like massive star cruisers in a science fiction film.
But once visitors to the new Georgia Aquarium have seen Ralph and Norton — the only whale sharks on display outside of Asia — they will still have at least 99,998 more fish to go.
When the aquarium opens Nov. 23, it will become the world's largest by virtually all major standards of the industry. It was bankrolled almost exclusively by a $200 million gift from Home Depot Inc. co-founder Bernie Marcus.
"It's going to be the most unique aquarium in the world," said Marcus, 76. "I don't want to say the best. (Status as) the best will come after people view it and decide."
The aquarium will also be the centerpiece of a downtown Atlanta revival aimed at drawing millions more visitors to the Southern city each year.
The aquarium is adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and lies across the street from the CNN Center and the Georgia Dome. In 2007, a new World of Coca-Cola museum is expected to open next door. The city also is a finalist for NASCAR's hall of fame, which would be located in what is now a parking lot neighboring the other attractions.
High Tech Displays for Schools of Fish
Shaped like an abstract cruise ship, the aquarium is expected to attract as many as 2 million visitors in its first year.
The aquarium was designed to hold 8 million gallons of water and be home to more than 100,000 fish. By comparison, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago — the nation's largest indoor aquarium for decades — has 5 million gallons and about 20,000 fish.
The Atlanta aquarium's pair of juvenile whale sharks — characterized by their streamlined bodies and depressed, broad and flattened heads — could grow to more than 40 feet long, giving visitors a rare glimpse at the world's largest fish.
by, Doug Gross AP (Associated Press) ABC News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_re_us/stinky_plant
By JACOB ADELMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Nov 20,11:42 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Its scent has drawn comparisons to garbage and spoiled meat, but that isn't stopping crowds from flocking to see _and smell — an unusual plant in bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
The titan arum plant, nicknamed "corpse plant" for its rank smell, is attracting thousands of visitors during the day or two it remains in bloom.
"It's quite spectacular: the color and the form and the strong odor," said John Kress, chairman of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's botany department, which owns the plant. "I think that's what most people come to see. Or smell."
The long, conical bloom of the titan arum is believed to be the largest flower that doesn't grow on a tree. It has been known to grow 12 feet high in its native habitat on the island of Sumatra.
The specimen at the botanic garden, which began blooming early Sunday, is about 5 feet high.
Now that it's in bloom, the plant has also started emitting a smell that's drawn comparisons to garbage, spoiled meat, and rotting fish. But the plant's stench is actually the key to its survival: carrion beetles and other pollinators in its native Sumatra are attracted to the smell, Kress said.
"These beetles usually lay their eggs in rotting animals, so this plant pretends to be a dead animal," he said.
The smell also seems to be attracting visitors to the botanic garden. About 2,000 people had come to the garden to see the plant by Sunday afternoon, and at least 10,000 were expected by day's end.
Visitors are also interested in the plant because they are few chances to see one, Kress said. There are only about a dozen of the plants in the United States, he said.
A typical titan arum plant only blooms about once every five years. The one at the U.S. Botanic Garden is blooming for the first time at age 14.
Garden visitor Charles Miehm said he came to see the plant because it seemed like a rare opportunity.
"It's not as rancid as roadkill, but it's got a pretty potent smell," he said.
Worlds Largest Aquarium opens tommorrow in Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-21-aquarium_x.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/11/21/ga.aquarium.tourism/
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=1311541&page=1
ATLANTA, Nov. 18, 2005 — The whale sharks are kings of the 6-million-gallon tank, their presence palpable even before they emerge from the murky darkness like massive star cruisers in a science fiction film.
But once visitors to the new Georgia Aquarium have seen Ralph and Norton — the only whale sharks on display outside of Asia — they will still have at least 99,998 more fish to go.
When the aquarium opens Nov. 23, it will become the world's largest by virtually all major standards of the industry. It was bankrolled almost exclusively by a $200 million gift from Home Depot Inc. co-founder Bernie Marcus.
"It's going to be the most unique aquarium in the world," said Marcus, 76. "I don't want to say the best. (Status as) the best will come after people view it and decide."
The aquarium will also be the centerpiece of a downtown Atlanta revival aimed at drawing millions more visitors to the Southern city each year.
The aquarium is adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and lies across the street from the CNN Center and the Georgia Dome. In 2007, a new World of Coca-Cola museum is expected to open next door. The city also is a finalist for NASCAR's hall of fame, which would be located in what is now a parking lot neighboring the other attractions.
High Tech Displays for Schools of Fish
Shaped like an abstract cruise ship, the aquarium is expected to attract as many as 2 million visitors in its first year.
The aquarium was designed to hold 8 million gallons of water and be home to more than 100,000 fish. By comparison, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago — the nation's largest indoor aquarium for decades — has 5 million gallons and about 20,000 fish.
The Atlanta aquarium's pair of juvenile whale sharks — characterized by their streamlined bodies and depressed, broad and flattened heads — could grow to more than 40 feet long, giving visitors a rare glimpse at the world's largest fish.
by, Doug Gross AP (Associated Press) ABC News
