Hundreds of visitors are flocking to a botanical garden in southeastern Brazil to watch the rare blooming of the Titan arum, the world's smelliest and largest tropical flower.

Titan arum, also known by its scientific name, "Amorphophallus titanum," which means misshapen giant penis, is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra. It rarely flowers, is incredibly difficult to cultivate and takes six years to grow.

On Thursday, the Brazilian specimen reached 5 feet 3 inches in height, but the species can grow up to over 10 feet tall.