In brief
As anticipation builds for the titan arum's rare blooming, affectionately named Putricia, internet users engage in enthusiastic live chats and humorous acronyms to express their support and excitement.
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney is currently housing an endangered plant known as the "corpse flower," a titan arum that generates significant buzz within the community and online viewers alike as it prepares to bloom. This unique plant, nicknamed Putricia, emits an odor that many describe as reminiscent of "wet socks, hot cat food," or even "rotting possum flesh." The natural phenomenon occurs just once every few years, with the blooming process lasting only 24 hours.Putricia, currently recognized by thousands who have tuned in to the livestream, is encased in a protective display, complete with a red velvet rope and brown curtain. Despite its stillness, countless viewers eagerly check in, declaring their loyalty to the ongoing wait; many have adopted the phrase "WWTF," which stands for "We Watch the Flower." Emotional comments flood the chat, with viewers delighting in the slow anticipation and humorously noting the plant's majestic presence.Once fully blossomed, Putricia is expected to unfurl its striking maroon spathe surrounding the prominent spadix. Although the Gardens have warned that predicting the precise moment of blooming is challenging, that has not deterred digital onlookers. "This is the slowest burlesque ever," joyously proclaimed one viewer, while another more contemplative fan remarked, "I am weak, but Putricia is strong."In its natural habitat, the titan arum, scientifically designated as Amorphophallus titanum, is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it is known as bunga bangkai, translating to “corpse flower.” Due to deforestation and land degradation, the titan arum is endangered. In extraordinary cases, this plant can grow up to three meters tall and weigh around 150 kilograms, making it known for having the world’s largest flowering structure.Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens is lucky to showcase several titan arums, with Putricia being the star bloom. Public interest in the species surged after previous corpulence blooms in Melbourne and Adelaide in recent years exacerbated the public's curious gathering for a whiff of the infamous stench. Outside Australia, Kew Gardens in London also houses a few titan arums, maintaining international intrigue. Indeed, the titan arum has marked its biography with multiple outbursts of bloom since its first flowering outside Sumatra in 1889 in Kew, inviting a growing audience eager for both the sight and smell of this colossal flower.
