An endangered plant known as the “corpse flower,” or Titan Arum, has bloomed at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, attracting massive online interest through livestreams. The flower, affectionately named Putricia, is renowned for its foul odor, likened to “wet socks” or “rotting meat,” and blooms only once every few years for about 24 hours. With the livestream reaching over 8,000 concurrent viewers, fans engaged with humorous commentary and abbreviations like “WWTF” (We Watch the Flower). This specimen, which has been growing for seven years after being received from LA Botanical Gardens, last bloomed 15 years ago. The plant is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, and is endangered due to habitat loss. Titan Arum is the world’s largest flowering structure, reaching up to 3 meters tall. Its unique biology tricks pollinators and supports ecological functions. Other corpse flowers have bloomed across Australia, captivating audiences in various botanical gardens.
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