Australia (Commonwealth)_ A rare and endangered titan arum, commonly known as the “corpse flower” due to its pungent odor, has recently bloomed at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, drawing significant attention from online viewers worldwide. This remarkable event, occurring only once every few years and lasting a mere 24 hours, has been broadcast via livestream, attracting thousands of individuals eager to witness the plant’s dramatic unveiling.
The specific specimen, affectionately nicknamed Putricia, is anticipated to emit a powerful scent reminiscent of decaying organic matter, often likened to rotting flesh, wet socks, or spoiled food. This distinctive aroma serves a crucial biological purpose, attracting pollinators that are essential for the plant’s reproductive cycle. The extended anticipation leading up to Putricia’s full bloom has fostered a unique online community within the livestream’s chat, complete with its own lexicon of acronyms such as “WWTF” (We Watch the Flower), “WDNRP” (We Do Not Rush Putricia), and “BBTB” (Blessed Be The Bloom), demonstrating the collective enthusiasm surrounding this botanical event.
The livestream has garnered substantial viewership, with concurrent viewers doubling within hours as Putricia’s physical appearance began to change. John Siemon, the director of horticulture and living collections at the gardens, likened the event’s public draw to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, noting the significant influx of visitors even before the flower fully opened. This particular plant, acquired from the Los Angeles Botanic Garden seven years prior, is approximately ten years old, making it its first bloom under the care of the Sydney Gardens in 15 years. This milestone has generated considerable excitement among the garden staff and the wider botanical community.
After a period of dormancy, Putricia’s transformation became visibly apparent, prompting increased online engagement. The plant, positioned behind a protective red velvet rope, began to open its spathe, a vibrant maroon or crimson skirt-like structure that surrounds the central spadix, a large, prominent spike. While the precise timing of the full bloom remains unpredictable, the online audience remains engaged, expressing their anticipation through humorous commentary and unwavering support.
The ancient Greeks gave the titan arum its scientific name, Amorphophallus titanum, which translates to “giant misshapen penis,” a reference to the spadix. Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is known as “bunga bangkai,” meaning “corpse flower” in Indonesian, this species boasts the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence, capable of reaching up to 3 meters in height and weighing as much as 150 kilograms. The base of the spadix houses hundreds of individual flowers. The plant’s putrid odor, released during its blooming phase, effectively mimics the scent of decaying flesh to attract carrion beetles and flies, which serve as its primary pollinators.
This species faces endangerment in its natural habitat due to deforestation and habitat degradation. Putricia is one of several titan arums cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. While this marks the first bloom at this location in 15 years, other botanic gardens across Australia, including those in Melbourne and Adelaide, have experienced similar blooms in recent years, each drawing considerable public interest. Kew Gardens in London also maintains a collection of these plants, with one blooming as recently as June of the previous year. The first recorded flowering of a titan arum outside of Sumatra occurred at Kew in 1889. The current blooming of Putricia not only provides a rare opportunity for public observation and education but also highlights the importance of conservation efforts for this remarkable and threatened species.
