Superflower: Rafflesia

*Rafflesia arnoldii


Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Rafflesiaceae
Genus: Rafflesia

*Rafflesia labelled

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THE biggest flower of all - Rafflesia is named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles who first discovered its wonderful existence in an expedition cutting through Indonesian rain forest.

These giants have no stems, leaves or true roots, and are classified as a genus of parasitic flowering plants. They are known as endoparasites of vines, spreading their absorptive organs, called haustorium, inside the tissue of the vine.

WIKIPEDIA: "In botany, a haustorium (plural haustoria) is the appendage or portion of a parasitic fungus (the hyphal tip) or of the root of a parasitic plant (such as the broomrape family or mistletoe) that penetrates the host's tissue and draws nutrients from it. Haustoria do not penetrate the host's cell membranes."

*Structure and anatomy of a haustorium

*Haustorium of parasitic plant (greenish) resembling Rafflesia, penetrating through the vascular tissues of its host (bluish) to obtain nutrients parasitically

Indeed, it is the presence of haustorium that makes Rafflesia a parasitic plant. Thus, in fact the only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petaled flower. The diameter of the flower may be over 1 metre and might even weigh up to 10 kilograms. The flowers smell like rotting flesh, giving it some local names like 'corpse flower'. But, in return, it is this vile and unpleasant smell that functions as the mean of reproduction. Such smelly aroma the flower gives off attracts insects such as flies, which then transport pollen from male to female flowers. Despite that, some very few species of Rafflesia have bisexual flowers.

*Note the flies on this Rafflesia - it stinks but works!

*Lifecycle of ordinary Rafflesia

*Parasitic Rafflesia having its firm grip on its host

*A sensational dive into the tropical monster

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Until now, as what I opine, there still is a lack of thorough information within the bottommost of a Rafflesia. Believably, there are still many of these superflowers lying unknown out there, within the deepest, moistest and the most untouched evergreen of the tropical labyrinth, like giants awaiting some occasional attentions in deep silence...