CANBERRA, Australia. A rare and pungent botanical phenomenon has unfolded in Australia, marking the country’s third extraordinary bloom of the infamous corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) in as many months. The latest occurrence took place at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra, where the plant bloomed for the first time in its 15-year history over the weekend, captivating visitors with its overpowering stench of decaying flesh.
The bloom, which began to open on Saturday, was already closing by Monday, according to garden staff. Carol Dale, Canberra’s acting nursery manager, admitted the surprise in witnessing the event after years of uncertainty about whether the plant would thrive in the city’s climate.
“It’s been in our collection for slightly longer than these plants would normally take to flower for the first time, so we just didn’t think we had the right conditions here in Canberra,” Dale said. “So yes, it did catch us by surprise; a very pleasant one.”
A Rarity in Bloom
This latest bloom follows another in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens in late January, which attracted 20,000 visitors, and a previous occurrence at the Geelong Botanic Gardens near Melbourne in November.
Native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is known as bunga bangkai, the corpse flower is renowned for its unpredictable blooming cycle, occurring only every 7 to 10 years. The flower emits its rotting flesh odor to attract pollinators such as flies and carrion beetles. With fewer than 300 specimens left in the wild and fewer than 1,000 worldwide, including cultivated specimens, each bloom is a rare and notable event.
A Mystery in Timing
The sudden surge in corpse flower blooms across Australia has puzzled botanists, as the plants are grown under varying conditions in different locations.
“One of the theories is that a lot of these plants are of a similar age, so they have just stored up enough carbohydrates in the corm to finally produce a flower,” Dale explained. “All of the plants around Australia are held in different conditions, so it’s unusual that they’re all flowering at the same time.”
Despite differing climates and fertilization methods in Canberra, Sydney, and Geelong, the flowers have bloomed in quick succession, adding to the intrigue surrounding the species’ complex growth cycle.
An Overpowering Stench
Those fortunate enough to witness Canberra’s 135-centimeter (53-inch) tall bloom were met with an intense and unforgettable odor. Dale described the smell’s rapid intensification: “By Saturday evening, it was incredibly pungent. We could smell it from across the road. It was definitely gag-worthy.”
Due to space constraints in the greenhouse, the number of visitors was limited by a ticketing system. Attendees compared the scent to rotting meat, sweaty socks, garbage, sewage, and decomposing animals.
By Monday, the worst had passed, but Dale noted that the plant was still releasing its signature scent: “We collected pollen about an hour ago, and when you’re right up close to the plant, it’s still got that rotting flesh smell.”
A Rare Botanical Spectacle
The corpse flower’s fleeting bloom draws fascination worldwide, as botanical gardens meticulously cultivate the rare species for years, hoping for the elusive event. With Australia having experienced three such blooms in recent months, the spectacle has drawn thousands eager to witness and—if they can stomach it—smell one of nature’s most remarkable plants.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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