Thousands Flock to See and Smell Rare Corpse Flower in Geelong

Thousands Flock to See and Smell Rare Corpse Flower in Geelong

November 12, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor World

The Titan Arum, commonly known as the corpse flower, is currently in bloom at the Geelong Botanic Gardens for the first time. Here are the key points about this event:

  1. Bloom Duration: The plant starts blooming on Monday, November 11, and is expected to last only 24 to 48 hours before the flower dies. During this short period, the gardens are open 24 hours for visitors to see and smell the plant[1][2][5].

  2. Scent Description: The corpse flower is famous for its distinctive odor, which resembles rotting flesh. The smell is due to several smelly molecules, including dimethyl disulfide (garlic), dimethyl trisulfide (rotten flesh), methyl thioacetate (sulfur), and isovaleric acid (cheese or sweat)[2].

  3. Visitor Interest: Thousands of people have lined up to witness the rare bloom, with some visitors describing the smell as similar to a dead mouse or a stinky pond[1][2][5].

  4. Conservation Efforts: The Titan Arum is endangered due to logging and habitat loss in its native Sumatran forest. The Geelong Botanic Gardens received the plant as a gift from the State Herbarium in Adelaide, South Australia, in 2021. The preservation of this plant species is important as its wild population is in decline[1][2][5].

  5. Live Stream: For those unable to visit in person, the garden offers a live stream of the corpse flower, which has already garnered tens of thousands of views[2][5].

  6. Community Engagement: City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie emphasized the vital role of botanic gardens in promoting rare and unique plant species. The bloom has been an exciting moment for both locals and international visitors[1][5].