“Corpse flower” regarded as smelliest in the world bursts into bloom in Kew Gardens – for less than two days 

A “CORPSE FLOWER”, widely regarded as the smelliest in the world, has burst into bloom at London’s Kew Gardens – for less than two days. 

The titan arum gained its nickname thanks to the smell it emanates resembling that of a rotting corpse. 

To the relief of nostrils everywhere though, the flower only blooms every 4-6 years and only for about 24-48 hours at a time. 

Now, a specimen of the rare plant – which can reach over 3m in height – has bloomed in the botanic garden in Richmond, south-west London, with staff urging Brits with a strong nose to come and take a look whilst they can. 

The giant species of flowering plant grows at a tremendous rate when in bloom and can quickly sprout ten centimetres a day. 

The plant’s strong odour is released during its brief blooming period in an effort to attract pollinators as quickly as possible. 

In the wild, the plant can only be found in the rainforests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, but the Kew Gardens holds two specimens of its own, with the incredible flower having been on display there since it was first acquired in the late 1800s. 

Gardeners expect the titan arum to have died back by tomorrow, but any green-fingered tourists that miss out need not worry as staff predict the second of their “corpse flowers” to bloom soon. 

Excitedly sharing an image of the blooming flower to social media in a post yesterday Kew Gardens’ social media page wrote: “It’s official, the titan arum is in bloom. 

“Known for its horrid smell, this large plant only blooms for 24-36 hours. Make sure you stop by the Gardens to take a look (or sniff). 

“Can’t make it this time? Keep an eye on our channels, as another titan is set to bloom soon.”  

The post received over 3,600 likes and more than 40 comments from plant enthusiasts in awe of the giant plant.  

One user said: “My gosh- that is a huge flower. What is the purpose of its horrible smell?”  

Another wrote: “Some flowers last for only a few hours, while others may be functional for several weeks.  

“The question that intrigued me for ages is, what is the evolutionary and/or ecological significance of floral longevity?”  

A third added: “Saw the one at the Eden Project (smelled it first) some years ago – never forgotten but trying to.”  

Another replied: “Jurassic Park.”