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 | Sydney Parks / National Parks / Gardens Reviews | Tips 11 - 20 of 115 |  |
 | |  |  | Parks / National Parks / Gardens: "Amorphophallus titanum" | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
The "Amorphophallus titanum", or Titan Arum for short, is the largest flower in the world. About a decade ago, the scientists obtained the seeds and have been caring for them ever since. The seed have produced tubors, which are up to 300 times the size of a potato! Apparently the tubors must be at least 7 years old before they will flower. Periodically, the tubors have put up tall leaf stalks, one of which can be seen in an adjacent pot, but recently one of the tubors produced this flower. It develops relatively quickly, sometimes growing up to 10 cm/day (4 inches) and can grow until it's almost 3 meters tall! Then the structure at the base opened up to show the reddish cup-shaped form, and the flower released a repulsive stench not unlike rotting flesh (this attracts the pollinators at night). This picture was taken on Saturday, October 9, two days after the full bloom. It no longer smelled at this stage... The Gardens has quite a number of these tubors as the scientists work to prevent the extinction of this species, so any of these could bloom at almost any time. So, just what does "Amorphophallus titanum" mean? Go look it up on the website. And if you like a bit of ribald humor, take a look at the Tital Arum limricks. ;) Leave a Comment Address: Tropical Centre at the Sydney Royal Botanic GardenWebsite: http://www.rbgsyd.gov.au/conservation_research/horticulture_research/titan_arum/titan_arum_fact_sheet
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| | | | Parks / National Parks / Gardens: Chinese Garden of Friendship | Tip Rating: | | | | |
The Gardens are open daily from 9:30am to 5pm (except Christmas). Entry fees are: Adults: $6, Children under 15: $3, Family of 2 adults & 2 kids: $15, Concession: $3 When we first walked by the gardens and peeked in, I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend $6 to go in, but later we had time, so we came by and went through... plus, my parents got the senior discount, so that was nice. Once we got in, the gardens were much bigger than I was expecting. There was a big lake in the middle and a pathway around it with a couple of waterfalls, bridges, and a pretty temple at the top of the hill. There was also a tea room inside, but we didn't go in. There was even a spot where you could dress up in Chinese clothes and get your picture made (but that was an additional cost)... I personally wouldn't have done it even for free, but some people were dressing up and they looked like they were having fun. :) If you are in Darling Harbor and like gardens, check these out - they were very serene! Leave a Comment Address: Darling HarbourPhone: +61 2 9281 6863Directions: The garden is located at the southern end of Darling Harbour, near the Sydney Entertainment Centre and adjacent to Chinatown.Website: http://www.chinesegarden.com.au Other Contact: chinesegarden@shfa.nsw.gov.au
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| | | | Parks / National Parks / Gardens: THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Keen gardeners will need a full day here, there are around 7,500 varieties of plants, one of which, the Wollemi Pine, is so rare it is grown in a locked cage until 1994 it was thought to have become extinct in prehistoric times and less than 40 specimens are known to exist the volunteer staff on the entrance couldnt have been more helpful, and there is a visitors centre where you can get audio tours when your feet start to ache there is a little train circuiting the gardens every 15 minutes watch out for the trees around the lake, they are homes to fruit bats and you may get splashed ! the lake has several varieties of native birds on it, and is a pleasant place to rest dont forget to check out the Tropical Centre and the Fernery, both are open from 10.00 to 16.00 the Gardens are open from7.00 to sunset, and the visitors centre is open from 9.30 to 17.00 there are guided walks daily at 10.30 Leave a Comment Address: Mrs Maquaries RoadPhone: 02 9231 8111
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| | | | Parks / National Parks / Gardens: Get a load of this one, will ya? | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Whoooooey! I missed this in its prime (it bloomed on October 7, 2004), but it had only started to wilt just a little. This is the first ever blooming of the Titan Arum, or the Carcass Flower, in Sydney, and it produced a lot of interest, because it's the biggest flower in the world. Originally from the forests of Sumatra, it only blooms occasionally, and when it does, it has the odor of decaying flesh! Check out the bawdy limericks written about it at this website... Leave a Comment Address: Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Tropical CentreWebsite: http://www.rbgsyd.gov.au/whats_new/titan_arum_limericks
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Sydney
on January 30, 2005
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