Thousands await stinky plant’s rare bloom

An endangered plant nicknamed the “flower of death” because of its stench is about to bloom in Australia – and it’s taken the internet by storm in the process, with thousands of people already looking down the river ahead of it.

The titan arum trees, located in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, bloom only once every few years for only 24 hours.

Affectionately called Puttricia, it produces a smell that has been described as “wet socks, hot cat food, or rotting possum meat”.

The long wait and the uncertainty of when Puttricia will bloom – has caused a joke and a special meaning in the live chat, with thousands of people responding “WWTF”, or “We look for Flowers”.

The present view is not many: Puttricia stands tall and silent in front of a purple cloth, neatly pinned behind a red velvet cord. Sometimes, a visitor enters the frame while taking a selfie with the plant.

But when it blooms, viewers can expect to see Puttricia reveal a bright maroon or crimson skirt, called a spathe, around its spadix, which is the large point in the center of the plant.

The Gardens say it is “difficult to predict exactly” when Puttricia will bloom, but that hasn’t stopped thousands from flocking online.

“I’m back to check on Puttricia and I can see she’s taking her time like a queen, fair play,” wrote one commenter. “This is the slowest eagle ever,” said another.

However, one person wrote: “One night I watched, I slept, I woke up, I watched, I slept. I am weak, but Putricia is strong. WWTF.”

Other popular acronyms among viewers are WDNRP (We Do Not Rush Puttricia) and BBTB (Blessed Be the Best).

This plant is found in the forests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is known as bunga bangkai – or “dead flower” in Indonesia. Its scientific name is Amorphophallus titanum, which comes from Greek and means “giant misshapen penis”,

It has the largest flowers in the world, as it can grow up to 3m (10 meters) and weigh up to 150kg. The plant has several hundred flowers at the base of its spadix.

It is threatened in the wild due to deforestation and land degradation.

Puttricia is one of several titans at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, which last bloomed 15 years ago.

But there have been other flower bouquets in Australia in recent years, including the gardens of Melbourne and Adelaide, each time attracting thousands of visitors eager to enjoy themselves.

There are also a few that live in Kew Gardens in London, where one bloomed in June last year. Titan arum was first grown outside of Sumatra in 1889 at Kew.