The Botanic Gardens of Sydney’s Corpse Flower is scientifically known as amorphophallus titanum, a beautiful name which translates to… large, deformed penis.

However, to the people of Sydney and the world, the rare endangered plant has taken on a new name: Putricia.

The combination of words “putrid” and “Patricia” is fitting, given the tall pointed flower emits a smell likened to “a rotting carcass,” says Daniella Pasqualini, the botanic gardens’ horticultural development supervisor.

Corpse flowers are native to western Sumatra, Indonesia, and it’s the first time a corpse flower has bloomed in the Royal Botanic Garden in 15 years.

Once she has fully blossomed, Putricia and her stench will only last 24 - 48 hours.

Online, thousands are watching a livestream of Putricia, waiting for her to blossom, with over 3,000 people tuning in on Wednesday.

“People have become quite obsessed with her,” Pasqualini says. “She’s taken on a life of her own.”