Rare corpse flower to bloom at Cairns Botanic Gardens

THE stench of rotting flesh is an unlikely attraction but it’s one that will draw huge crowds in Cairns.

The Cairns Botanic Garden is preparing for the imminent blooming of a large Amorphophallus titanum flower, more commonly referred to as the corpse flower. 14 year old Ethan Hobdey, of Redlynch, is ready to view the flower, which has a repugnant smell, similar to rotting flesh, when it blooms. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

THE stench of rotting flesh is an unlikely attraction but it’s one that will draw huge crowds to the Cairns Botanic Gardens when a rare “corpse flower” blooms.

The foul-smelling Amorphophallus titanum,or titan arum, has the largest single, unbranched inflorescence (flower cluster) in the world and a famously brief bloom of about 24 hours. It’s been two years since a titan arum last flowered in Cairns with previous blooms attracting thousands of people.

The 11-year-old plant, one of five in cultivation at the gardens, is expected to open on Sunday or Monday and reach up to 2.5m, making it the largest grown in Cairns.

“A massive spathe unwraps to display a deep crimson colour and reveal a giant flower-bearing spadix,” said curator David Warmington.

“While the fragrance it emits is not the most pleasant, the inflorescence is truly a wondrous sight.”

Mr Warmington said the odour served an important purpose, attracting beetles and flies that pollinate the plant.

“We can’t tell you exactly when it’s going to flower but it’s even quite stunning at the moment,” he said.

Once the titan arum has bloomed, it will gradually close over two to three days and wither then, if the small female flowers have been pollinated, seeds will begin to develop.

It’s located in the new Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory at the Cairns Botanic Gardens on Collins Avenue, Edge Hill, which open daily from 7.30am to 5.30pm.

Originally published as Rare corpse flower to bloom at Cairns Botanic Gardens