How do flowers that smell like rotting meat attract flies?

Flowers that smell like rotting meat, often called carrion flowers, attract flies by mimicking the odors of dung or decaying flesh. These scents serve as deceptive signals that guide carrion-seeking insects, such as blowflies and other carrion flies, to the plant.123

Insects are naturally drawn to these odors because they typically use them to locate suitable sites for egg deposition. In some cases, the deception is so effective that flies will attempt to lay their eggs directly on the flower.13

To ensure pollination, some of these plants employ specialized mechanisms. For example, the cuckoopint uses an elevated temperature to increase the vaporization of its scent, spreading the odor over a wider area. Once a fly lands on the floral structure, it may slide into a trap—often made slippery by oil droplets—where it is temporarily held by spines until it has deposited or collected pollen.1