What is not on our amazing and unique planet! Sometimes you wonder when you meet unusual animals, inhabitants of the deep sea or plants. They, like people, are trying to adapt to life on earth, evolving over the years and acquiring forms and abilities that allow them to survive. There are many interesting plants on the planet, but I would like to highlight among them and examine in more detail the largest flowers in the world. The title of the largest and most widespread representative of the flora was earned by Rafflesia Arnoldi.
Champion grows in the
rainforests of Indonesia and the Philippines. It was first discovered in 1818 by the English botanist Joseph Arnold and the naturalist Stamford Raffles on the
island of Sumatra. By the way, in honor of its discoverers, the flower was named. The whole world recognized Rafflesia Arnoldi in the 19th century, but this does not mean that before that no one had seen this plant. Local residents have long known about him and called the "lotus flower." In nature, there are 16 types of rafflesia.
The largest flowers in the world in diameter reach one meter and weigh about 10 kg. This plant is a parasite, because it is not able to independently synthesize the necessary mineral and organic substances. Seeds fall into the damaged areas of the vines, which germinate and parasitize there, penetrating into the tissues. Rafflesia Arnoldi is also called "cadaveric flower" or "cadaveric lily", and all thanks to its disgusting smell. The brick red color and the stink of decaying meat attract flies pollinating the plant.
The largest flowers in the world grow very slowly. It will take about 9 months for the bud to open. After ripening, a fruit is formed, which only a very large animal, such as an elephant, can crush. Rafflesia Arnoldi consists of five petals that bloom in four days. It has no leaves, roots or stems, it grows directly from the vine. About 3 million seeds are obtained from one fruit.
The title "The largest flowers in the world" is not only Rafflesia Arnoldi, but also the tallest plant - Amorphophallus Titanium, also called "snake palm", "cadaveric flower", "Voodoo lily." Its inflorescence reaches 3 meters in height. This is a structure assembled from a huge number of small female and male flowers. The plant spends most of the time in a sleeping state in the form of a large tuber weighing 50 kg and up to 50 cm in diameter. In the spring, a stalk appears on which a complexly dissected leaf develops.
The largest flower bloomed in Stuttgart, its height was 3.3 m. One instance grows in the English botanical garden, but Indonesia is considered its homeland. The photo of the largest flower is amazing, what can I say, if you can see it live. But still, not every grower will agree to have such a giant in his collection, because Amorphophallus Titanium is not only the tallest, but also the most foul-smelling plant in the world. A flower appears only once every three years and pleases with its presence for three days, after which it fades, and 6-meter leaves grow in its place.