Rafflesia Arnoldii: Largest flower in the world
 (Read 500+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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As gardeners probably all of us would like to have something unique and unusual in our yards about which we could brag. We may strive to grow the first tomato of the season, the tastiest corn, the biggest pumpkin and perhaps the prettiest flower. Some of us manage these little triumphs but most don’t. There can only be so many winners for growing the biggest whatever, you see. That being the case does it make us less of a garden enthusiast, do you think? That may depend entirely on how much you want that blue ribbon.
Some go a different route and grow extremely fussy, exotic orchids. That is one way to get noticed. But there is one exotic and rare plant you wouldn’t likely want to grow anywhere near your landscape no matter how famous it would make you for doing so. That would be growing the largest flower in the world. Perhaps you don’t even know which that may be. Is it the Hibiscus, Southern Magnolia, Rosa Grandiflora or perhaps the plume of an ornamental grass? Gosh no! Nothing that mundane. Those are merely dots compared to this exotic, very rare, speckled, though not particularly pretty, rust colored flower. It is called Rafflesia Arnoldii.
Rafflesia Arnoldii, recently assigned to the Euphorbiaceae family, is the biggest, individually produced flower in the world. It gets to be 3 feet across and weighing a whopping 15- 24 pounds. That’s pretty darn big but still you would not like this flower in your perennial bed. Why is that? If you could mimic a rainforest type environment for this plant, it gives off a most offensive odor when in bloom. This scent is somewhat like rotting meat. This is why it is often called the Corpse plant by some natives of Indonesia where it originates.
Its blossoms only last three days to a week. But in those few days it needs a miracle or two just for survival. This hideous smell it produces attracts pollinating insects to it to help perpetuate the species. But even when this happens only 10-20 percent of the tiny seedlings make it. With any luck in nine months it blooms.
Rafflesia Arnoldii. is a parasitic plant. Its minuscule seeds are taken up by a passing animal who is perhaps in pursuit of carrion to munch on. The seed is then transported to another plant, usually a vine of some sort, which will serve as home. The host plant will then provide all water and nutrients for the Rafflesia Arnoldii. The wonder of this plant is it has no visible root system nor any stems or foliage. The flower has five leathery petals in a rusty red color with a huge opening in the center from where the malodorous scent emanates and where the seeds are produced if properly pollinated.
As the flower only lasts three days to a week at most and are very few and far between it is indeed a rare sighting, probably worse to come by than Bigfoot and UFO’s. On the rare occasions this happens Rafflesia Arnoldii is found, in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra in the Malay Archipelago. It is an endangered species and there are efforts to keep it around but even with all this it is not likely that they will be available at your local garden center any time soon
If you’re planning a trip to such a place a Borneo or Sumatra rainforest, don’t forget to pack a face mask so you can get up close and personal with this rarity. That way you might not puke as you admire the wonderful Rafflesia Arnoldii.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 For amusing short stories visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782. For an intriguing novelette-in-progress visit: http://www.myspace.com/glorygarden.
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