The one-off bloom, which normally starts around sunset and is over by sunrise, remarkably enough, started around 3 p.m. A spokesperson for the botanical garden tells the BBC that it appears they are dealing with a “sun lover”.
“These things always happen at their own pace,” said Professor Beverley Glover, the garden’s director. “I’m not as surprised as some might be. Plants tend to do their own thing.”
The flower of the Selenicereus wittii, which is found in part of the Amazon region, initially gives off a sweet scent. After two hours the flower starts to wither and the sweet air gives way to a rancid scent.
“Our moonflower is open and it smells divine, just like gardenia and jasmine. We think that will later turn into a rotting vegetable,” garden employees write on social media.
–
