It's show time for Tabatha the Titan. The giant, rare, stinky flower in the Botanical Conservatory at UC Davis has begun to unfurl its maroon-colored, petal-like spathe. Peak odors are anticipated tonight.

The blooming, aptly named, "corpse flower" has grown to 5 feet tall, eclipsing last year's bloomer by more than a foot. Ted the Titan topped out at 43 inches. Tabatha's short-lived bloom should last a day or two.

The public is invited to come experience Tabatha until 11 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the flower fades. Directions to the Botanical Conservatory are online at http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/titan/directions.lasso.

More information about the plant, also known as Amorphophallus titanum or titan arum, is available online at http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/titan. This Web site includes a live webcam, interviews with conservatory curator Ernesto Sandoval, student journals on Tabatha's development, scientific monitoring and other background information.