An endangered plant renowned for its pungent odor, nicknamed the “corpse flower,” is currently in bloom at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia. The rare event has drawn global attention, with thousands of people tuning in to a livestream to witness the phenomenon.
The titan arum, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. The plant blooms only once every few years, with the flowering process lasting a mere 24 hours. This short-lived spectacle has made the corpse flower a botanical marvel, celebrated for its massive structure and the distinct stench it emits.
The Sydney specimen, affectionately named Putricia, has become an online sensation. Descriptions of its scent range from “wet socks” and “hot cat food” to “rotting possum flesh.” The event’s popularity has even inspired unique language among viewers, who have coined phrases like “WWTF” (We Watch the Flower) in the livestream’s chat.
On Thursday, more than 8,000 people were watching the livestream simultaneously, a number that doubled as the flower began to show noticeable changes. The anticipation was palpable as the plant, cordoned off behind a red velvet rope, slowly revealed its vibrant maroon spathe—a petal-like structure that surrounds the spadix, the towering central spike.
The excitement surrounding Putricia’s bloom is unprecedented at the Royal Botanic Gardens. “This specimen is around 10 years old,” said John Siemon, director of horticulture and living collections at the gardens. “We acquired it from our colleagues in LA Botanic Garden at the age of three, and we’ve been nurturing it for the last seven years. We’re incredibly excited to have our first bloom in 15 years.”
Siemon likened the public interest in the bloom to Sydney’s 2000 Olympics, noting, “We’ve had 15,000 people come through the gates before it [the flower] even opened.”
The livestream has become a platform for humor and camaraderie among viewers. One commenter wrote, “I’m back again to see how Putricia is going, and I can see she’s still taking her time like the queen she is, fair play.” Another quipped, “This is the slowest burlesque ever.” A particularly devoted fan shared, “Overnight I watched, fell asleep, awoke, watched, fell asleep. I am weak, but Putricia is strong. WWTF.”
Other acronyms created by viewers include WDNRP (We Do Not Rush Putricia) and BBTB (Blessed Be The Bloom), reflecting the playful yet reverent tone of the online community.
The corpse flower’s unique characteristics make it one of nature’s wonders. When in bloom, the spadix emits a strong odor resembling decaying flesh, which lures pollinators like flies and beetles. These insects, mistaking the plant for rotten meat, assist in transferring pollen between male and female flowers.
The titan arum holds the distinction of having the largest flowering structure in the world, capable of reaching heights of up to 3 meters (10 feet) and weighing as much as 150 kilograms (330 pounds). Its spadix contains hundreds of flowers at its base, further emphasizing its extraordinary biology.
Despite its grandeur, the titan arum is endangered in the wild due to deforestation and habitat degradation in Sumatra. Efforts to cultivate the plant in botanical gardens worldwide aim to preserve its existence while also educating the public about its ecological significance.
Putricia is one of several titan arums housed at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The last bloom there occurred 15 years ago, making this event a rare and cherished occasion. However, other Australian cities have hosted similar blooms in recent years. Botanic gardens in Melbourne and Adelaide have also showcased the corpse flower, each time drawing thousands of visitors eager to experience its notorious odor.
The fascination with the titan arum extends beyond Australia. London’s Kew Gardens, a pioneer in cultivating the plant outside its native habitat, saw a corpse flower bloom as recently as June last year. The first recorded bloom outside Sumatra occurred at Kew Gardens in 1889, marking a historic milestone in botanical history.
As Putricia continues her fleeting bloom, she serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required to protect endangered species. The thousands of people captivated by her appearance, both in person and online, underscore the enduring appeal of nature’s rare and unusual phenomena.
With her maroon skirt unfurled and her infamous stench filling the air, Putricia has cemented her status as a true botanical queen, inspiring awe, laughter, and a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the natural world. WWTF indeed.