Rare Flower Blooms in Australia

An endangered plant known as the 'corpse flower' is currently blooming in Sydney, Australia, captivating thousands of viewers both online and in person. The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), affectionately dubbed Putricia, is housed in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney and blooms only once every few years for a mere 24 hours.

This rare botanical event has sparked significant interest, with a livestream of the bloom attracting over 8,000 simultaneous viewers. The plant's notoriety stems from its pungent odor, often described as reminiscent of 'wet socks, hot cat food, or rotting possum flesh'. Despite – or perhaps because of – this olfactory assault, thousands have flocked to witness the spectacle in person.

John Siemon, director of horticulture and living collections at the gardens, compared the event's popularity to Sydney's 2000 Olympics. The gardens acquired Putricia from the LA Botanic Garden seven years ago and have been nurturing it since. As the plant unfurls, viewers can expect to see a vibrant maroon or crimson spathe surrounding the central spadix.

Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, the titan arum is endangered in the wild due to deforestation and land degradation. Its scientific name, derived from Ancient Greek, translates to 'giant misshapen penis', reflecting its unique appearance.