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Rare 'corpse flower' blooms in Australia | Rare 'corpse flower' blooms in Australia |
(5 days later) | |
A 2m-tall flower, known for its pungent odour which has been likened to rotting flesh, has bloomed in Australia. | A 2m-tall flower, known for its pungent odour which has been likened to rotting flesh, has bloomed in Australia. |
South Australia's Mount Lofty Botanic Garden has been growing the Amorphophallus titanium, more commonly called the Corpse Flower, for 10 years. | |
About two weeks ago the plant's famously pungent flower began to grow, before finally opening on Monday. | About two weeks ago the plant's famously pungent flower began to grow, before finally opening on Monday. |
Matt Coulter, a horticulture curator at the garden, said the flower's "rotten fish smell" was overpowering. | Matt Coulter, a horticulture curator at the garden, said the flower's "rotten fish smell" was overpowering. |
"When I opened the door this morning it almost knocked me over, it was so strong," he said. | "When I opened the door this morning it almost knocked me over, it was so strong," he said. |
Mr Coulter, who has been tending the flower for the last eight years, said he was ecstatic that it had flowered for the first time. | Mr Coulter, who has been tending the flower for the last eight years, said he was ecstatic that it had flowered for the first time. |
"It's fantastic. I didn't think it would ever flower," he said. | "It's fantastic. I didn't think it would ever flower," he said. |
"It comes from [the Indonesian island of] Sumatra, so we've been keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer, and keeping the humidity high. | "It comes from [the Indonesian island of] Sumatra, so we've been keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer, and keeping the humidity high. |
The corpse flower cannot self-pollinate and its stench attracts sweat bees and carrion beetles that live on animal carcasses. | The corpse flower cannot self-pollinate and its stench attracts sweat bees and carrion beetles that live on animal carcasses. |
In the wild, these animals will carry the plant's pollen to other corpse flowers. | In the wild, these animals will carry the plant's pollen to other corpse flowers. |
Queues of visitors have been lining up to see - and smell - the flower at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden since it began opening on Monday. | Queues of visitors have been lining up to see - and smell - the flower at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden since it began opening on Monday. |
The flower will last for just 48 hours before it collapses in on itself. | The flower will last for just 48 hours before it collapses in on itself. |
Other flowers have been grown in botanical gardens around the world, attracting visitors when they bloom. | Other flowers have been grown in botanical gardens around the world, attracting visitors when they bloom. |