GARDENERS at the Eden Project have received some blooming marvellous news about a plant that is sure to create a stink for weeks to come.

The world's largest and smelliest flower, known as Titan arum, has astounded horticulturalists at the St Austell-based tourist attraction by starting to blossom in the depths of winter.

The rare plant is growing at a fast rate inside a giant pot in the Humid Tropics Biome and is expected to go into full flower in about three weeks time, when it will give off the foulest of odours.

At present the plant stands at 45cm but it is growing at an amazing ten to 15cms a day and could reach a towering three metres.

Don Murray, Humid Tropics Biome curator and a rainforest expert, said: "We are very excited that the Titan is starting to flower at this time of the year. This is possibly the earliest this plant has ever come to bloom outside the tropics.

"We will be checking with other experts in the field to see if they have come across this phenomenon before. We want visitors to come to Eden to see this bizarre and strangely beautiful botanical monstrosity for themselves."

He suggested that the combination of 2006 being the hottest year on record and the mild start to the New Year has created conditions suitable for the Titan to flower many weeks earlier than would be expected.

"Last year's unprecedented warm temperatures and high sunshine levels and the extremely mild winter we are currently experiencing have to be considered as a factor in this rare occurrence," he added.

The Titan - proper name Amorphophallus titanum - originates from the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where its putrid stench has led to its other name: the corpse flower. It is a distant relative of the lilies known as "lords and ladies" found in British hedgerows.

This is only the second Titan arum to flower at Eden - the first blooming in mid April 2005, causing a sensation among captivated visitors.

When the plant is ready to attract pollinators, the spike heats up and gives off the smell that revolts humans but is very alluring to insects. It then develops a fruit that attracts birds before ending its life.

The Tian is being cared for by horticulturist Tim Grigg, who said: "This has completely taken me by surprise. I will be measuring the plant every day and waiting for it to fully open - which should happen in about two or three weeks."