What's That Smell? 'Corpse Flower' Finally Blooms In New York City

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A foul smelling plant known as the "corpse flower'' is finally blooming at the New York Botanical Garden in New York City.

The rare blooming began Thursday afternoon after more than 10 years of growth. It's native to Sumatra's equatorial rain forests, and emits an odor like rotting flesh while it's briefly in bloom. 

Spectators stood in line for over an hour just to catch a glimpse and whiff, WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini reported.

"It's beautiful. It's something people should see," visitor Susan Nehama said.

Nehama and her daughter, Sofia, said the sight of the flower was definitely worth the wait.

It's one of the largest flowers on earth and can reach 6 feet in height. It emits the stench to attract pollinators.

"The few ways I've heard the smell is described is rotting meat and a dead body," one girl told CBS2's Steve Langford earlier this month.

This is the first time since the 1930s the New York Botanical Garden has hosted this exotic species.

The bloom at its peak only lasts about 24 to 36 hours and it could be years before the flower blooms again.

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