The voodoo lilies can be found in the foyer of Begonia House. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
'Voodoo lilies' are once again stinking out Begonia House at Wellington's Botanic Garden.
There are two lilies in the greenhouse, the Amorphophallus konjac and the Sauromatum venosum, both of which the Garden's visitor experience manager Raydeen Cuffe said smelled "horrendous".
She said the Amorphophallus konjac smelled a lot like "wet dog" or "rotting flesh", while the Sauromatum venosum smelled more like "sewage".
The Amorphophallus konjac flowers every seven years while the Sauromatum venosum flowers once a year - but when the latter flowers it takes about seven hours from start to finish.
The Amorphophallus konjac at Begonia House are all in bloom, with an umbrella-like leaf, and their stench has now subsided.
One of the Sauromatum venosum has also already flowered. Two more remain furled up in their pots, and are expected to bloom over the weekend.
The Sauromatum venosum flowers once a year. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Consequently, Cuffe expects it to be a stinky weekend at Begonia House.
"The gardener came in the other day and he thought the toilets had backed up but instead it was [the Sauromatum venosum] blooming."
Cuff said the reasons the plants were so pungent was they were trying to attract bugs and pollinators that went for carrion or decaying flesh.
The plants, which originate from Asia and Africa, do however drastically vary in their function.
The Amorphophallus konjac is edible, and Cuffe said it could be turned into a gelatine-like consistency to use in dishes. Meanwhile the Sauromatum venosum is poisonous.
The voodoo lilies can be found in the foyer of Begonia House and Cuffe expects this weekend's stinky blooms will attract a few punters.
The tropical end of the Begonia House is currently closed for renovations but the remaining plant areas are open until early next year.
It's set to be a stinky weekend at Begonia House. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
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