The “corpse flower” is attracting a lot of attention as it prepares to bloom in Australia. Known as the titan arum and affectionately named Putricia, this rare plant is found in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney. It blooms only once every few years and the bloom lasts just 24 hours. The smell it emits is infamous, with people comparing it to the scent of wet socks, rotting cat food, or decaying flesh.
What makes Putricia’s bloom so exciting is that no one knows when it will happen. People are eagerly watching a livestream to see any sign of the bloom, and in the chat, they’ve started using phrases like “WWTF” (We Watch the Flower) and “WDNRP” (We Do Not Rush Putricia). Some viewers humorously compare it to a slow-motion burlesque show.
The plant, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is endangered due to deforestation. It has the world’s largest flowering structure, reaching up to 3 meters tall and weighing up to 150 kilograms. The bloom consists of hundreds of small flowers on a large spike, surrounded by a red or maroon petal-like structure.
Although Putricia hasn’t bloomed yet, people are waiting in anticipation, both online and in person at the Gardens. Similar blooms have occurred in other Australian cities like Melbourne and Adelaide, and every time, crowds gather to witness and smell the rare, stinky spectacle.