Corpse flower is one step closer to bloom at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Botanic Garden spokesperson Julie McCaffrey said Spike, the flower, is not getting taller, but growing fatter. It is said that the corpse flower is not yet ready for its late night glory.

The corpse flower, formally known as titan arum, has grown 39 inches in width and 68 inches length wise since Sunday night. The flower has been attracting more flies. For now, the flower has not done two general things expected from it before blooming and that are oozing secretions from the leaves that surround the flower.

Secondly, it starts giving off little bit of stench. Botanic Garden spokesperson Julie McCaffrey, said on Tuesday it seemed that the flower was having 12 to 48 hours before it bloomed. However, the flower continues to gain attraction even without the smell.

Over the weekend, thousands of people came to see the flower. Since the time it has gone for display, more than 38,000 people have viewed the flower. The garden officials said that people start coming to see the flower as soon as the gates open at 7am and they continue to come till 9pm when gates are closed.

The corpse flower, which is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, Indonesia, is known for its big size, odd shape and terrible stench. The flower rarely blooms.