The world goes crazy over weird things. This has been proved by the global populace with people going crazy over the most bizarre stuff. In India, people queuing up to watch a digger excavating a road has become the popular meme ‘JCB ki khudai’. Now, another weird craze is leading to long queues in Australia’s Geelong. Reason: the putrid-smelling ‘corpse flower’, scientifically known as ‘Amorphophallus Titanum‘.
The flower started blooming for the first time since its arrival at the Geelong Botanic Gardens in 2021. This unusual plant, often referred to as the ‘Titan Arum’, is notorious for its odour, which resembles that of decaying flesh. The scent serves a crucial purpose: attracting pollinators such as beetles and flies, which are drawn to the smell of rotting meat.
Fair to say there is some extreme interest in Geelong’s so-called corpse plant, or ‘amorphophallus titanum’, for those playing at home. It flowers every decade and lasts just 24-48 hours. Those on the way out of the botanic gardens report dry-retching. pic.twitter.com/0zYExprGcm
— Henry Belot (@Henry_Belot) November 11, 2024
Keep reading to see the time-lapse video of the flower blooming below.
Corpse Flower Blooms: A Rare Event
The corpse flower’s blooming had been a highly anticipated event due to its unpredictable nature, occurring only once every seven to 10 years and lasting just 24 to 48 hours. On November 11, when the flower bloomed, it drew a massive crowd of nearly 5,000 visitors on the first day alone. Many attendees expressed both fascination and disgust at the overwhelming stench, with descriptions ranging from “like a dead ‘possum” to “a stinky pond”.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens extended their visiting hours to accommodate the huge stream of visitors eager to see the rare bloom. The authorities even arranged a live stream for those unable to attend in person. The live stream of the event attracted tens of thousands of curious viewers from around the globe. The combination of anticipation and community engagement surrounding the event has created a vibrant atmosphere at the gardens.
The corpse flower is not just a curiosity. It is also an endangered species. Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, its population has come down due to habitat destruction from deforestation and agricultural expansion. Currently, only a few hundred of these plants remain in the wild, and they are legally protected in Indonesia. The Geelong Botanic Gardens is trying to cultivate this species and highlight the vital role that botanic gardens play in conservation and education about rare plant species.
For those who weren’t there to smell it, watch as Cosmo the corpse flower blooms 👀
Thousands flocked to #ColoradoState over Memorial Day weekend to see a rare corpse flower during a bloom that was eight years in the making.
Learn and see more ➡️ https://t.co/2n82CGF40H pic.twitter.com/GPCmrqgsej
— Colorado State University (@ColoradoStateU) May 28, 2024
Ali Wastie, chief executive of the City of Greater Geelong, was quoted by news website CNN: “The endangered Titan Arum is the largest carrion flower species, and its conservation is crucial as its natural population dwindles”. Carrion flowers are those that emit a foul odour.
Visitors have been returning multiple times to observe the various stages of blooming. The initial unfurling of its frilly base leaf eventually gives way to a tall yellow spadix surrounded by a purple skirt-like structure.
