‘Maypse’: Australia reacts to the smell of flowers in bloom

Almost 20,000 people have visited the Sydney botanic garden to catch a whiff of the endangered plant known as the “corpse” as it blooms.

Putricia place, Titan Arum Arum Elite Breass Statrid Sayang “something rotting” or “hot garbage” for 24 hours after blooming.

The smell is a result of the production of chemicals in the plant to attract pollinators.

The endangered flower – native to Sumatra, Indonesia – only blooms every 7-10 years in the wild. There are probably more than 1,000 species globally, including those in cultivation.