Rare corpse flower blooms for the first time in 15 years in Australia

In Australia, the corpse flower, scientifically known as amorphophallus titanum, has made headlines due to its recent bloom that occurred for the first time in 15 years at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. On Saturday, the strikingly tall flower, measuring 135 centimeters, opened with an exceptionally pungent odor reminiscent of decaying flesh. This event is significant as it marks the third such flowering of this rare plant within a few months across the region, with previous blooms witnessed in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and at Geelong Botanic Gardens. Collectively, these blooms attracted thousands of visitors who were eager to experience the unique scent and observe this botanical rarity. The Sydney bloom in late January drew around 20,000 admirers, illustrating the public's fascination with the corpse plant. Similarly, an earlier flowering at Geelong also saw large crowds. The rarity of the corpse flower's bloom is attributed to its growing conditions, requiring adequate carbohydrate storage in its underground tuber, or corm, prior to producing a flower. This recent spate of blooms has puzzled experts, leading to theories that a number of these plants, held under varying climatic conditions, may have reached a similar growth stage around the same time. Carol Dale, the acting nursery manager at the Canberra botanic gardens, noted that her prediction about the corpse plant's ability to thrive in Canberra's colder climate had been incorrect, as this recent bloom challenged previously held beliefs. Spectators described the flower's odor as overwhelmingly strong, comparable to that of dead animals, spoiled food, and other unpleasant scents. Staff emphasized that the strongest part of the smell came soon after the flower began to open, with the worst of it having passed by the following Monday. Volunteers collected pollen from the flower soon after its opening, indicating that while the intense odor lingered, it was still an important moment for botanical sciences and conservation efforts. Understanding such occurrences can drive interest in plant conservation and showcase the delicate balance of ecosystems, especially for such an endangered species that thrives in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. With fewer than 1,000 known plants globally, educating the public on the corpse flower and engaging them through their rare blooms could inspire further support for conservation initiatives.