Giant smelly flower puts on sex show in Belgium

MEISE, Belgium (Reuters) - It's one of the world's largest flowers, it stinks of rotting meat or rancid cheese and looks very much like a giant penis.

The Amorphophallus Titanum -- literally "the giant strangely shaped penis" -- has been attracting big crowds at the National Botanic Garden of Belgium on the outskirts of Brussels.

The rare phallus-like flower that springs from the plant only survives about 72 hours and its timing is completely unpredictable, said Gert Ausloos, head of education at the garden.

Auloos called it "a botanical superstar". "It's there for a short time, it's glamorous, it's big, it produces something special ... it's star quality."

Also known as Corpse Flower, it releases a strong smell to attract pollinators, thought to be sweat bees.

Thousands queued to see -- and smell -- the 1.6 meter tall specimen on Thursday.

Visitors compared the smell to rotten fish, others to rotten meat or old cheese.

"It smells like a mix of rotten fish and rotten meat. It's quite impressive!" said visitor Frederic Lebreux.

"I don't know, maybe like a Camembert," said Rachel Kaiembe.  Continued...