Corpse flower

Sydney's Putricia: The Corpse Flower That’s a Stinking Hit with Aussies!

Over 20,000 curious visitors embraced the corpse flower's stench in Sydney! Can you handle the odour?

Sydney has become the talk of the town thanks to a smelly sensation that has bloomed in the Royal Botanic Gardens. The infamous corpse flower, often amusingly referred to as "Putricia," has drawn in almost 20,000 visitors eager for a whiff of its infamous aroma. Picture this: crowds lining up for hours, noses at the ready, just to experience something that’s been likened to rotting flesh, wet socks, or even hot cat food. To some, this stench is a perfume of nature; to others, it’s a bizarre event that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Putricia is not your everyday flower; it’s the world's largest unbranched flower, and when it blooms, it’s a spectacle to behold! This colossal plant only flowers every few years and the bloom only lasts for a short period—roughly 24 hours—so there’s a sense of urgency among stench enthusiasts! Many were drawn in, even waiting up to three hours under that blaring Sydney sun, all for a chance to be engulfed by its notorious bouquet. Some even joked about the staff considering vomit bags for visitors as they bravely approached this olfactory adventure.

Interestingly, Putricia may not have the prettiest smell, but it has quite the following. Garden staff report that fans have become utterly obsessed with the plant, surprising even themselves with their newfound love for its less-than-fragrant personality. They simply can’t resist boasting about their “unique experience,” and talking about a scent that many have claimed they had never encountered before. Call it the deadliest perfume on the market; it certainly has an irresistible allure for a certain crowd.

For many Sydneysiders, this event has become a symbol of quirky Australian culture, emphasizing that we love to embrace even the wildest and smelliest of our natural wonders. As the corpse flower draws its final breaths, it leaves behind a community filled with stories of their bravado faced with the plant’s pungent perfume. Whether one can stand the smell or not, there’s no denying that Putricia has made a fascinating mark in Australia’s botanical history!

Fun Fact: The corpse flower, or Amorphophallus titanum, is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, and is critically endangered. It gets its name from the foul smell that resembles rotting flesh, which helps attract pollinators like carrion beetles!

Did you know that when the corpse flower blooms, its large spadix can reach over three meters tall? This enormous flower can grow to a whopping 80 cm in diameter as well, making it hard to miss! Talk about a plant that knows how to make an entrance!