"Corpse flower' on display in DC (VIDEO)

July 23, 2013 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated July 23, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Visitors crowd around a Titan arum, also known as the "corpse flower" on Monday in expectation of getting a whiff of it's characteristic blooming smell of rotting flesh, at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington. The smell had peaked in the very early morning hours, yet despite the lack of stink visitors streamed in to get a look at the unusual plant.
Visitors crowd around a Titan arum, also known as the "corpse flower" on Monday in expectation of getting a whiff of it's characteristic blooming smell of rotting flesh, at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington. The smell had peaked in the very early morning hours, yet despite the lack of stink visitors streamed in to get a look at the unusual plant.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Curious crowds are experiencing the fleeting bloom of the unusual "corpse flower."

The 8-foot flower bloomed Sunday at the U.S. Botanic Garden next to the Capitol. But by the time visitors lined up Monday morning, Plant Curator Bill McLaughlin says the "incredible stench" of rotting flesh the flower is famous for had cleared out. The plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Experts had anticipated the bloom for more than a week, and it is now expected to collapse on itself. The garden's last corpse flower bloom was in 2007.

Gene Granados heard about the bloom on the news while on a family trip to Washington. While he expected it to be smellier, he says it was still worth visiting.

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