Crowds throng to Geelong to see rare ‘corpse flowers’ bloom

Victoria: Thousands of people recently throng to the Geelong Botanic Gardens in Victoria, Australia, to witness the blooming of the rare “corpse flower” (Amorphophallus titanum). It is unique due to its unusual smell, like rotten flesh. This flower is considered exclusive because it blooms only once in 7 to 10 years, and the bloom lasts for a brief period of 24 to 48 hours. Only lucky people are able to see it.

This flower bloomed on November 11 this year; people were waiting for its bloom for a long time, and more than 5,000 tourists arrived to the spot to see the rare commodity on the first day. A live action was organized on social media, enticing people globally to come and see nature’s charisma. Those who were unable to reach there can see on social media platforms.

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The corpse flower was brought to Geelong Botanic Gardens in 2021 from the State Herbarium in Adelaide. Horticulturalists were keeping eyes on its growth, hoping of its bloom. This species, the Titan Arum, is endangered and native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where deforestation has greatly reduced its natural habitat.

The Chief Executive City of Geelong Botanic Gardens, Ali Wastie, praised the garden staff for their efforts in preserving endangered plants. “The endangered Titan Arum is the largest species of carrion flower, and its preservation is essential as the wild population is in decline,” Wastie said.

The structure of this flower is unusual; it can grow up to 9 to 10 feet tall: a tall spadix wrapped by a spathe, which looks like raw meat. In Indonesia, this species has been officially protected, and many botanical gardens have been growing globally as part of its preservation.