This past weekend, a very unique and notably smelly plant attracted crowds in Brooklyn as people lined up for a chance to catch a whiff of the flower affectionately named “Smelliot” by the team at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

“It has a scent like feet, stinky cheese, and spoiled meat. It was just the most unpleasant mix of odors,” Elijah Blades shared with the Associated Press. “It was revolting.”

Known scientifically as Amorphophallus gigas, or Smelliot, this plant is extremely rare, with only nine other botanical gardens worldwide reportedly having one, according to Botanic Gardens Conservation International. This corpse flower arrived at the Brooklyn garden as a small seedling from Malaysia back in 2018 and bloomed for the very first time on Friday.

BBG gardener Chris Sprindis recognized the first signs of blooming on New Year’s Eve and subsequently relocated the plant from a greenhouse to the Garden’s Aquatic House.

“Staff members have been anxiously anticipating this moment,” the garden stated on its website, calling the plant “perfectly putrid!” The staff kept a close watch on the cluster of flowers that were beginning to develop inside the spathe − a protective covering for the emerging flowers.

Oddly shaped, impressive, and short-lived

The name Amorphophallus derives from ancient Greek, where amorphos means “misshapen,” while phallus refers to penis − so perhaps we should describe the plant as cigar-shaped. Gigas translates to “mighty” or “giant” in Greek.

“Once the spathe fully opens, A. gigas will only remain in bloom for a few days before wilting, so if you’re interested, hurry to see it!” the website excitedly shares. However, you might have already missed the opportunity. The bloom could be gone by Monday, and, according to Sprindis, you may not see another bloom for several years.

Another similar plant attracted visitors in Sydney

Amorphophallus gigas, which hails from Sumatra, is a relative of the famous corpse flower, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, as noted on the garden’s website.

Last week, Amorphophallus titanum was in the spotlight, blooming for the first time in over a decade at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia. True to its reputation, it released a strong smell akin to decaying flesh, drawing in thousands who were eager for the experience.

This particular flower is affectionately called Putricia – a blend of “putrid” and “Patricia” – and the garden extended its hours until midnight on Thursday to accommodate the large crowd. Amorphophallus titanum can reach heights of up to 10 feet and typically takes between seven to ten years to bloom initially.

“I compare its smell to that of a dead possum,” said Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Sydney Botanic Gardens. Sydney local Rebecca McGee-Collett waited an hour and a half to see the flower on Thursday night and described it as beautiful − but the odor was “like hot garbage.”

Contributing: Reuters