Stinky Phil Blooms

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campus experience 1:10 Stinky Phil Blooms

By:

Dan Mirolli

10 Jun 2020 691

The rare plant blooms on Virginia Tech's campus.

It's tough. It smells a little bit like if you buried a raw egg in a stinking tennis shoe underneath a chicken coop and maybe throw in a dead fish. It's not easy in its native environment of Sumatra, that plant is on the endangered species list, partly due to deforestation. >> And part of the thing we really love about Phil is the fact that when he exhibits this beautiful, Hokie maroon color, and everybody really gets excited about it. >> This plant was gifted to us over 20 years ago. >> Over that period of time, it created a lot of excitement and a lot of buzz. >> Each time it blooms, which is only three times in my tenure here of 15 years. >> So how does it smell? I've been trying not to do this. Oh my gosh ! >> That is fragrant.

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