‘Old socks' flower that only blooms for 48 hours makes first UK appearance
The Gabon false hydrosme at Kew Gardens, which is listed as an endangered plant, only blooms for a 48-hour period of time and becomes exceptionally pungent in this window.
It is expected to reach peak smelliness and full bloom in the coming days and visitors to Kew will be able to experience the process in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
Scientifically named the Pseudohydrosme gabunensis, the plant is around 20in tall and is native to the lowland forests of Gabon, in central Africa.
The lifecycle of the plant builds to a maximum smell that is designed to mimic decomposing flesh in order to entice flies. The smell, along with the dark red interior of its leaves, is intended to entice and trap bugs who will then aid with pollination.
'They're quite short-lived flowers and that's why they produce a lot of volatile compounds – a lot of smells,' Tom Pickering, the head of glasshouses at Kew Gardens, told The Times.
'They make sure that when they are in bloom, they are drawing pollinators in for that short period of time.'
The plant was pollinated three years ago from other blooming specimens that did not go on display.
Now, the team at Kew is hoping the first publicly displayed bloom will impress visitors.
'It's a really unusual occurrence and it's quite spectacular. It's a very strange flower,' Mr Pickering said.
'I wouldn't say it's strikingly beautiful but it's very odd, with amazing colours and an amazing shape.'
Another plant that is found at Kew and is famed for its foul odour is the so-called corpse flower, which blooms every two years and is up to 10ft tall.
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This man wants to build UFO technology for America
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