Bunga Bankai (Indonesian), Titan Arum or Amorphophallus titanum has the biggest, smelliest flower-spike in the world. It flowers for just 24 hours, once every few years… and one is about to bloom at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
What is it?
Found only in the rainforests of western Sumatra, the rare and endangered Corpse Flower plant is renowned for the smell of putrid, rotting flesh that surround the flowers when it blooms.
People have described the smell as like wet socks, hot cat food, or rotting possum flesh. But wouldn’t you like to find out for yourself?
What’s happening?
There are several Corpse Flower plants in different stages of growth in the Aroid glasshouse in the nursery. Despite this, blooms are very rare, occurring for just 24 hours every few years. The last time a Corpse Flower bloom was on public display at the Garden was in 2006.
A few days ago horticulturalists working in the glasshouse noticed the initial clues that one might be entering the flowering stage. Daily measurements and close observation began, and due to vital information sharing from other botanic gardens across the world about Amorphophallus titanum blooming patterns, the team can now confirm that we are likely to have a stinky inflorescence in the next few days!
When can I see it?
It’s hard to predict exactly when the flowers will bloom. At the moment the spadix (the large pale spike in the centre of the plant) is growing fast. Once this growth spurt ends in a few days, the spathe (the crimson skirt that surrounds the spike) will start to open.
That’s when the smell begins.
