The rare and endangered “corpse flower” has finally bloomed in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, captivating thousands of people online. The titan arum plant, also known as Amorphophallus titanum, blooms only once every few years for 24 hours and releases a strong, putrid smell.
The plant’s long wait to unfurl has generated jokes and unique lingo among livestream viewers, with many commenting “WWTF” or “We Watch the Flower”. The livestream attracted over 8,000 simultaneous viewers on Thursday, doubling within hours as the plant’s appearance changed.
This particular specimen is around 10 years old and has never bloomed before in Australia. The gardens’ director of horticulture said the bloom was like a major event, with 15,000 people coming through the gates before it even opened.
As Putricia continues to bloom, viewers can expect to see its vibrant maroon or crimson skirt unfold around its spadix, which is the large spike in the middle of the plant. The gardens cannot predict exactly when the bloom will end, but thousands are watching eagerly online.
The titan arum plant is endangered due to deforestation and land degradation, and Putricia is one of several in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. Although there have been other blooms across Australia in recent years, this one is particularly special due to its age and rarity.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpnqe91j1o