The largest flower in the world
Rafflesia arnoldii
The flower with the world's largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii. This rare
flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to be 3
feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds! It is a parasitic plant, with no
visible leaves, roots, or stem.
It attaches itself
to a host plant to obtain water and nutrients. When in bloom, the
Rafflesia emits a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting meat.
This odor attracts insects that pollinate the
plant.
Amorphophallus titanum :
Another enormous
flower found in Indonesia is the Amorphophallus titanum, or Titan arum.
It is also known as the "corpse flower" for its unpleasant
odor. Like the Rafflesia, the Titan emits the smell of rotting flesh
to attract pollinators. Technically, the Titan arum is not a single
flower. It is a cluster of many tiny flowers, called an inflorescence.
The Titan arum has the largest unbranched inflorescence of all flowering
plants. The plant can reach heights of 7 to 12 feet and weigh as much
as 170 pounds.
Sources : Wikipedia & Google Images
