Corpse flower blooms at Canberra's Australian National Botanic Gardens for the first time (www.abc.net.au)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Tau@aussie.zone to c/canberra@aussie.zone

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An Amorphophallus titanum or titan arum, commonly known as the corpse flower, has bloomed at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra for the first time.

The 15-year-old plant started unfurling its 135 centimetre-tall flower spike on Saturday afternoon, emanating a putrid stench described by some as smelling like "dead rat".

The bloom is expected to start collapsing by Monday afternoon and will gradually return to a dormant state as an underground corm.

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[-] Tau@aussie.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

I didn't realise the Botanic Gardens had one of these, wonder if now they know it's viable they'll put it in a more public area (given how much interest that one in Sydney gets each time it pops out).

[-] Dimand@aussie.zone 4 points 2 weeks ago

Went to see it today. Had to book free tickets but it was accessible.

[-] Tau@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Sounds like there was quite a few people after the tickets given the article says all 990 tickets got snapped up in less than 24 hours, I'm impressed that that many people both knew it was happening and were enthusiastic enough to head out to see it (guessing the gardens sent out an email about it and social media posts etc).

Was the smell as powerful as these articles always say it is?

[-] dumblederp@aussie.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago

I went to the Garden World one a few weeks ago. Kind of a funky smell that did stick in my nostrils for a day or so but nothing compared to a sheep carcass rotting in the paddock.

[-] Dimand@aussie.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago

Agreed. Have smelt far worse on the farm. We were there at 2ish and one of the staff was saying it was a lot more potent in the morning and yesterday evening.

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this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2025

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