Sydney: Rare corpse flower blooms attract thousands

Sydney: In a bizarre incident, over 13,000 visitors thronged to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden recently to witness a rare corpse flower nicknamed Putricia for the first time in 15 years. Scientifically, the flower is known as Amorphophallus titanum; it has the name and fame for its foul odor, which is similar to rotten flesh. Therefore, the garden turned out to be the center of attraction due to the gloom of rare flowers.

The corpse flower usually blooms once every 7 to 10 years; this makes it unique. “The fact that they bloom so infrequently is a challenge for their survival in the wild,” explained Sophie Daniel, a spokesperson for the garden. Successful pollination requires another flower to bloom nearby, as the plant cannot self-pollinate.

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Putricia arrived at the garden seven years ago and was first noticed budding in December, standing just 25 centimeters tall. By Thursday, she had grown to an impressive 1.6 meters, with her burgundy center and yellow-green outer layer drawing crowds.

The garden created a theatrical display to celebrate the rare bloom; red carpet was spread and velvet ropes erected so that visitors’ could watch it with comfort. The flower remains in full bloom for just 24 hours. Social media packed with memes, live streams, and hashtags gathering almost a million views. During the bloom, the plant heats to 37°C to spread its scent and attract pollinators like flies and carrion beetles. Garden staff plan to hand-pollinate Putricia to help preserve the species.

“It’s hard to explain the fascination,” Daniel said. “Perhaps it’s the awe people feel in the presence of such an extraordinary living being.”