Brooklyn locals flocked to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this weekend to experience the rare bloom of Amorphophallus gigas, affectionately nicknamed “Smelliot.” Known for its pungent odor and striking appearance, the corpse flower emitted a smell likened to “feet, cheese, and rotten meat,” according to visitor Elijah Blades, who described it as “disgusting.”
The bloom, which began on Friday, is an extraordinary event as Amorphophallus gigas rarely blooms and only lasts a few days. Visitors rushed to catch the plant in full bloom before it collapses and potentially takes years to bloom again.
What is the Corpse Flower?
Amorphophallus gigas is a rare species native to Sumatra, Malaysia. Only nine other botanic gardens in the world are known to house this plant, making Brooklyn’s blooming event a unique opportunity.
The name Amorphophallus gigas comes from the Ancient Greek:
- Amorphos: Misshapen
- Phallus: Cigar-shaped (or phallic)
- Gigas: Mighty or giant
The plant is closely related to the more famous Amorphophallus titanum, another corpse flower species that shares the same reputation for its rotting flesh smell.
The Brooklyn Bloom
The corpse flower, which arrived at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2018 as a seedling from Malaysia, started showing signs of blooming on New Year’s Eve. Garden staff closely monitored its development and moved it to the Aquatic House, where it drew hundreds of visitors.
According to BBG gardener Chris Sprindis, the blooming event is short-lived. “Once the spathe opens, A. gigas will only bloom for a few days before collapsing,” he said. The garden warned visitors that if they didn’t visit by the weekend, they might miss the rare opportunity.
What Makes the Corpse Flower Special?
The flower’s infamous stench is an evolutionary strategy to attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flies that are drawn to the smell of decomposing animals. The strong odor, combined with its striking appearance, makes it a crowd-pleaser despite its foul reputation.
Global Corpse Flower Blooms
Brooklyn wasn’t the only place experiencing corpse flower fever. In Sydney, Australia, another corpse flower species, Amorphophallus titanum, nicknamed “Putricia,” bloomed last week at the Royal Botanic Garden for the first time in over a decade.
Putricia, known for growing up to 10 feet tall, also attracted long lines of visitors eager to experience its odor, described by Sydney Botanic Gardens chief scientist Brett Summerell as similar to “a dead possum.”
The blooming of Amorphophallus gigas in Brooklyn highlights the fascination with nature’s rarities, even those that smell as bad as they look stunning. Whether you describe the smell as “hot garbage” or “rotten meat,” events like these remind us of the incredible diversity of the plant world.
For those who missed “Smelliot,” it may be years before this rare plant blooms again, but its unforgettable impression will linger for some time.
