The World’s Largest Flower
This one holds the record for the world’s largest flower for over 180 years now, since its discovery in early 20th century.
Rafflesia arnoldii, or corpse flower, is the world’s largest flower. The genus Rafflesia contains 26 species. This rare flower blooms in south-east Asia, particularly in the rain forests of Indonesia. It can grow to a meter or more across and can weigh up to 10 kg.
The bud itself maybe as big as a basket ball! The flower is neither delicate nor fragrant,
Those two attributes we generally assign to a flower is completely absent in this case.
(one of the bud)
The flower is large, lumpy and stinky. It is mottled bloody red in colour; it emits an odour of rotten meat, and sometimes even emit heat. All in alit is a good example of mimicking dead animal. The trick works. This trait attracts carrion flies that pollinate it.
The flies are apparently attracted from the smell emanating from the flower, which is described by Swedish Ethnographer Eric Mjoberg as, “A penetrating smell more repulsive then a buffalo carcass in advanced state of decomposition.
( A stalk with fruits)
Rafflesia is named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the then governor of East India Company’s establishment on Sumatra, during its discovery by Joseph Arnold and his team. Latest research suggest that rafflesia s a relation of passionflowers, violets and poinsettias but unlike these it is a parasitic flower with no roots, stem or leaves visible.
Nowadays habitat destruction is taxing the existence of flowers but eco-tourism, awareness will indeed help a lot protect these rare flowers as many people are very much interested in seeing such repulsive flowers in full bloom.
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8 Responses to “The World’s Largest Flower”
On May 6, 2009 at 6:39 am
One big flower.
On May 7, 2009 at 3:02 am
that has a foul smell. good article.
On May 7, 2009 at 8:20 am
Isn’t that spadix from Amorphophallus titanum, and not from Rafflesia? Sure looks like an aroid infructesense more than a fruiting structure from Asclepiadaceae……?
On May 8, 2009 at 4:03 am
Note that I made a mistake. Thanks, mark M
On May 8, 2009 at 4:07 am
the third figure is the spadix(inflorescence)of Titan arum also known as corpse flower, the largest unbranched inflorescence of the world. I am sorry for wrong information. Thanks Mark M
On May 11, 2009 at 4:33 am
This is really great. I tend to think the flower is beautiful, but I guess no one would want them in their back yard, unless they wanted people to stay away by the smell. It would be sad that these flowers would become extinct due to the repulsive oder.
On May 11, 2009 at 7:45 am
Nasty flower I say! I sure wouldn’t want it in my back yard lol. Great read.
On May 12, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Nice article, but I could do without this flower in my back yard also, lol.
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