Rare Corpse Flower Blooms In Australian Capital

A corpse flower begins to bloom at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 23, 2025, before another has opened in the Australian capital Canberra in the nation's third such unusual flow

A rare bloom with a pungent odor resembling decaying flesh has opened in the Australian capital, marking the nation's third extraordinary flowering in as many months. The corpse flower, scientifically known as amorphophallus titanium, bloomed for the first time in its 15 years at Canberra's Australian National Botanic Gardens over the weekend and was closing on Monday, according to staff.

Another corpse flower briefly bloomed in the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens in late January, drawing 20,000 admirers. Similarly, a rancid bloom was experienced at the Geelong Botanic Gardens southwest of Melbourne in November.