Called “titan arum” in scientific lingo, Putricia is hailed as the smelliest flowering plant in the world, whose smell is often reminiscent of wet socks, hot cat food, rotting carcasses, or rotting possum flesh. According to a press release by the Australian Garden, this flower blooms only once every few years for just 24 hours. The first time it was caught blooming was in 2004, when more than 18,000 people flocked towards the Southern Hemisphere to watch it, or to say it in better words, to smell it.
BBC explains that the flower is found only in rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is known as “bunga bangkai” or “corpse flower” in Indonesian. Its scientific name is “Amorphophallus titanum,” which is derived from Ancient Greek and means "giant misshapen penis." When blooming, the flower releases a strong odor that tricks pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies into thinking that it’s decaying meat. But the moment they land on the flower, they unknowingly become pollinators by transferring pollen between male and female specimens.
In the time-lapse footage shared by the garden’s team, Putricia appears with green tendril-like pleats twisting and spiralling to form its trumpet-shaped cup. Jutting outwards from this cup was a lime-yellow spadix that resembled a corn cob. Once the team shifted Putricia into the glasshouse for exhibition, the trumpet cup started opening and turning darker in color. Sophie Daniel, the Manager of Interpretation & Placemaking, explained in a press release that the team designed “a right royal display inspired by Queen Victoria’s funeral, crossed with a little shop of horrors, a little homage to David Lynch, some gothic funeral parlour vibes and a dash of vintage side show.”
Meanwhile, Putricia’s rare blooming event continues to attract people’s attention. “Putricia did a good job presenting herself in full bloom. May her bloom, smell, and her spirit linger on,” said @rabidleroy in a comment. @jjjnettie said, “It was wonderful how Putricia brought people together from across the globe.” @skullivanderart wrote, “Oh Putricia, my queen! Even in decline, she is beautiful.” Many people were saddened after noticing how Putricia’s bloom gradually withered away. But it’s not its death, they believe. It is just dormant. It's just another 10 years before it wakes up again and endows humans with its putrifying stench, a rare opportunity our future generations wouldn't want to miss.
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