The corpse flower has taken over social media this week, going viral for its rare and fascinating bloom in Australia’s Geelong Botanic Gardens.
Story Summary:
- The corpse flower’s rare bloom at Australia’s Geelong Botanic Gardens has captured global attention with its unique scent and appearance.
- Known scientifically as the Titan Arum, this plant emits a strong odour of rotting flesh when it blooms, attracting crowds and pollinators alike.
- Blooms are so rare—only every decade or so—that gardens like Geelong even host livestreams for people to watch it unfold.
The ‘corpse flower’ is the latest social media phenomenon
Officially known as the Titan Arum, this plant isn’t just famous for its massive size—it’s the intense, foul odour it releases that has people talking.
True to its nickname, the “corpse flower” fills the air with a stench resembling rotting flesh whenever it blooms, a trait it uses to attract pollinators that love the smell of decay.
The blooming event, which began on Monday, 11 November 2024. around midday, quickly drew thousands of visitors eager to experience this rare botanical spectacle up close.
Geelong Botanic Gardens officials stated:
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community who came in their thousands to see this extremely rare event.”
To give everyone a chance to witness it, they even set up a livestream. As of Saturday, 9 November 2024,
Fox News reports that over 55,000 people from around the world had tuned in to catch a glimpse of this “beauty in beast mode.”
What makes this event even more thrilling is its rarity.
Titan Arum blooms can take up to a decade to occur, and when they finally do, the spectacle is brief—lasting just 24 to 48 hours.
This window attracts onlookers for a short, pungent experience. Adding to the allure, the flower heats up as it blooms, reaching temperatures close to 37.7°C, a factor that makes the smell spread even faster and further.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens showcased this heating process on a thermal camera during the livestream, capturing every moment of this eerie botanical display.
Why is the Titan Arum called the ‘corpse flower’?
Though it might sound like something out of a horror story, there’s a method behind the “corpse flower’s” macabre smell.
The Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) has evolved this unique feature to attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies, which are drawn to scents of decomposition.
With petals stretching over three metres high, the flower resembles a towering, dark-red “meat” to these insects, inviting them to land, crawl, and help them reproduce.
The fascination with the corpse flower has reached a fever pitch online. Viewers are mesmerised by this oddity, with thousands tuning in to view it virtually and sharing their reactions.
The corpse flower’s unusual look and biology make it a superstar among rare plants, adding a touch of the mysterious and unexpected to the world of botany.
In the meantime, the Geelong Botanic Gardens continues to enjoy its spotlight moment, as new viewers and curious fans tune in to witness a natural event that’s as short-lived as it is memorable.
