In the swampy wallows and wilderness of Varisia there grows a small, unassuming plant which grows untrammeled and free of the confines of gardens or greenhouses.  This weed, known as "goatbeard," has several unique properties which aid it in survival and hinder any who would threaten its existence.

The leaves have a strange sort of texture which causes them to affix themselves securely to any fabric, pelt, or hide which may casually brush against them.  The leaves are not firmly secured to the thorn-covered stem, but come free at a moment's notice, sticking sternly to clothing or skin.  Once so attached, the plant is actually able to reproduce itself through a strange sort of regenerative quality, growing an entire plant from the leaf alone.  This remarkable feat is made all the more astounding when one considers how devilishly difficult the leaves are to remove.  One poor soul (who wished to remain anonymous) endured such excruciating pain from ripping the leaves from his arms and legs actually allowed one especially sensitive spot to remain untouched, which had the unforeseen side effect of growing an entire mature goatbeard plant from his unmentionables.  The three-foot long stalk had to be removed with fire during an especially painful and humiliating procedure.  

The stem, besides the aforementioned thorns, has a milky, sticky sap which by all accounts is said to "stink to high heaven."  This oozing, pus-like fluid, besides being odious in the extreme, is used as a ready gravy sauce by a local goblin tribe as tenacious as the goatbeard weed itself.

The Stinkbutt Tribe in particular will eat anything especially if it is slathered with goatbeard gravy.  Any goblin will consume meals considered unpalatable by other species with relish, but Stinkbutts take this trait to an extreme level by eating boot leather, rotting meat, rotten vegetables, even handfuls of dirt so long as it is drowning in goatbeard gravy.  The potency of the smell is undiminished by passage through the intestinal tract, much to the dismay of other sentient beings and small woodland creatures.  In point of fact, the droppings of the Stinkbutt Tribe have been known to poison flora in an 8-inch radius and taint water sources killing the marine life within.  Local folklore suggests that "not even flies will eat what comes out of a Stinkbutt."

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A particularly inventive (if unhinged) chef, one Beauregard Bogtrotter by name, took it upon himself to research the usage of the goatbeard weed in his preparation of meals.  Bogtrotter wore a homemade goblin disguise made from felt, twine, and paper-mâché which he used to approach the Stinkbutt Tribe.  He endured a lengthy induction into the tribe, including such creatively heinous rituals as “Fingerflinger,” “Pick It, Flick It, and Stick It,” “Hosenose,” and "Everyone Line Up To Beat the Newcomer on the Butt with a Boat Paddle."

Once he had secured a place among the witless goblins, Bogtrotter quickly won their tiny malevolent hearts and earned the nickname "Cooks-Food-With-Fire." No food was too foul a meal to create, serve, and consume, but his greatest achievement was the discovery of the "Stinkbutt Soufflé."  Substituting milk for goatbeard gravy, he created a disgusting dish whose distinguishing characteristic was the gases which would inflate into bubbles atop the rubbery surface before popping and releasing the smell in loud, flatulent noises.  

When Bogtrotter emerged from the swamps, he set out to share his creation with the world at large.  Word spread about Bogtrotter and his disgusting dish, and this is the only time in recorded history that the nomadic tribes of Varisia united against a common foe.  After a coordinated search failed to find him, the Sczarni put out a bounty on Bogtrotter, which eventually led to his capture and the removal of one of his hands so that he would never recreate his horrible work.  Alas, due to what many scholars consider a grievous oversight, his writing hand remained affixed to his wrist, and Bogtrotter wrote the recipe down for future generations.  

Occasionally, a naive culinary student will take it upon him or herself to recreate the forbidden recipe.  This has led several countries to outlaw the Stinkbutt Soufflé, including Andoran, Cheliax, Varisia, and oddly enough the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.  Despite the name, stigma, and stench, the Stinkbutt Soufflé remains a popular dare in culinary schools, perpetuating the legend of the "worst dish in Golarion."