By Holly Tregenza, ABC
Fans held their nose as they viewed the endangered plant which emits a foul perfume. Photo: ABC / Jak Rowland
Almost 20,000 disgusted fans have lined up to catch a putrid whiff of Putricia, the rare stinky corpse flower which unfurled in the Sydney Botanic Garden this week and bloomed in the hearts of thousands of people online.
The plant, also known as Amorphophallus titanum, has the biggest, smelliest flower spike in the world and began wafting its foul odour on Thursday.
One young boy, with his T-shirt delicately pulled over his nose, reported the plant smelled like "rotten eggs".
"And poo," his brother said.
The queue to see Putricia at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney from the air. Photo: ABC
Crowds of people hold their nose while they look on at a large flower blooming inside a tent.
Others said it smelled like "chicken you've left out a little too long" or "a wet towel".
Sydney woman Madeline Rose told the ABC she had been obsessively watching Putricia for a week on the botanic gardens' live stream, titled A Plant to Die For.
Putricia's an online sensation
The live stream has been viewed almost a million times.
"Even while I was working I had it up on the side ... I hope my boss doesn't watch this," she said.
Almost 20,000 people have visited Putricia in person and a further million have watched online. Photo: ABC / Jak Rowland
The comment section in the live stream had also taken on a life of its own.
Bianca Rose, Madeline's sister, said 'WWIF' was trending.
"Which means, 'We Watched It Flower,'" they said in unison.
As Putricia unfurled and released her rank smell many also commented "blessed be the bloom".
A spokesperson for the botanic gardens said the team was "thrilled (and quite overwhelmed) by Putricia's fame".
"We love that you love her," they said.
'Wonderful piece of evolution': Stinky corpse flower 'Putricia' blooms in Sydney
Nina Berezovskis travelled an hour to see the flower and was planning on returning to get another whiff.
"It smells a bit like a wet towel," she said.
One young child, gripping her nose, said she "didn't like it".
Putricia is one of only 1000 Amorphophallus titanum believed to be left in the world. Photo: ABC / Jak Rowland
Others defended Putricia's stink, with one woman claiming it was "not that bad".
"It just smells like steamed veggies," she said.
"Just like compost, like a trip to the tip."
The rare and endangered plant is usually found in the West Sumatran rainforests, with estimates that there are fewer than 1000 specimens left in the wild.
The plants only flower every few years under very specific conditions.
Putricia is expected to emit its stinky smell for 24 hours post bloom, with the gardens planning to remain open until midnight on Friday.
- ABC
