A rare corpse flower, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum and affectionately nicknamed Putricia, unfurled at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney after a seven-year wait since it arrived at the center, marking only the fifth recorded bloom there in 15 years, according to Sky News.
The bloom has attracted up to 20,000 admirers who filed past, hoping to experience the smell for themselves, with some attendees describing it as "like death," "like poop," and "like sewage water," Sky News reported. Visitors experienced Putricia's pungent smell, which attracts pollinators with its putrid incense as it blooms and heats.
Putricia has become something of a social media sensation. A 24/7 livestream titled "A Plant to Die For" has surpassed 500,000 views and drawn close to a million views overall, as reported by Sky News. Thousands of people are commenting "WWTF" and "We are watching the flower" in the live broadcast chat, with many making plans to hurry to the garden as the plant opens.
The corpse flower emits a strong odor resembling rotting flesh, which attracts insects for pollination; others detect hints of rotting food, sweaty socks, or even garlic in the smell. The plant, native to the tropical forests of Sumatra, Indonesia, is known locally as "bunga bangkai," meaning "corpse flower" in Indonesian.
"We did have a few conversations early on about whether or not we should have vomit bags in the room," said Sophie Daniel, a garden spokesperson who designed Putricia's kooky and funereal display, adding that staff ultimately decided against it.
The titan arum, or corpse flower, blooms infrequently, typically once every seven to ten years in the wild, making its appearance a rare event. The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is planning to remain open until midnight to allow people to see Putricia's short-lived bloom, according to ABC News Australia.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the titan arum is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to deforestation, habitat clearance, and soil degradation, which threaten its habitat.
The unfurling of Putricia drew hundreds of devoted fans to the greenhouse in Sydney, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a rock concert, with garden staff erecting crowd barriers, as noted by The Guardian. Fans walked a red carpet to view Putricia from behind velvet ropes, greeted by the soft sound of classical music.
A shared language of memes and inside jokes sprang up among Putricia's fans. On social media, her fame soared with memes and acronyms like WWTF ("We Watch The Flower") and BBTB ("Blessed Be The Bloom"), The Economic Times reported.
One commenter on the livestream wrote, "I will give her whatever she wants," followed by "my wallet, my kidneys, they [are] for Putricia," as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Despite the flower's notorious odor, visitors are drawn to its unique charm. "I haven't heard of anyone actually being harmed," Daniel said, according to Sky News.
The corpse flower has the world's largest flowering structure, can grow up to three meters tall, and weigh up to 150 kilograms. In Putricia's case, she reached a height of 1.6 meters (5 feet 3 inches) by Thursday, The Economic Times reported.
The bloom lasts just 24 hours before the flower begins to wilt. "In just 24 hours, Putricia's bloom and her stench would be gone," ABC News noted.
After the bloom, horticulturists will begin the process of hand-pollinating the plant to ensure the continuation of the species. "If we achieve a successful pollination, Putricia may have up to 400 babies. We would see to distribute these to other conservation agencies that can benefit with new genetic diversity," said John Siemon, horticulture and living collections director at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, according to ABC News Australia.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.