Residents in Geelong, Victoria are gearing up for a once-in-a-decade event as a rare flower famous for smelling like rotting flesh begins to bloom.
Geelong Botanic Garden is currently home to the corpse flower — Amorphophallus titanium or titan arum — an impressive plant native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra in Indonesia.
The plant is famous for two fascinating characteristics — it blooms unpredictably, sometimes just once every 10 years and when it does, it smells like death.
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The corpse-like smell it releases attracts pollinators such as carrion beetles and flies and its giant leaf is a striking purple shade.
Adding to its allure, the rare bloom only lasts between 24 and 48 hours.
Those keen to get a peak, and a whiff, of the plant have been urged to get down to the Geelong Botanic Garden quickly as the plant began its bloom on Monday morning.
It should reach its full bloom over the course of about four hours.
It will be the first time the plant has bloomed in Geelong.
Those unable to make it to the garden in person can watch the whole event via a livestream.
City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie described the event as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.
“The endangered titan arum is the largest species of carrion flower and its preservation is important as the wild population is in decline,” she said.
“Since the bloom window is so short, don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience and come see it for yourself at the Geelong Botanic Gardens.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many people interested in the titan arum and thank you to the thousands of people who have come to visit our iconic gardens in the lead-up to its blossoming.”
While the corpse plant is in bloom, the Geelong Botanic Gardens will be open for 24 hours.