Rafflesia (flower): description and photo

Rafflesia is a giant flower, the largest in the whole world. Its glory has acquired the plant not only due to its huge size, but also due to the specific putrefactive aroma that it spreads around itself. Due to it, the flower received an additional name - a dead lotus.

The history of the discovery of rafflesia

Officially, Rafflesia was discovered in 1818. The flower was found in the tropics of Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra. The expedition, which discovered the plant, was headed by Sir S. Raffles. An unusual flower was first seen by the conductor, the assistant to the naturalist D. Arnold. The specimen that was found was striking in its huge dimensions. And the flower did not have a stem and roots. The plant was named after the name of the expedition leader and the naturalist doctor.

Areola of distribution

Rafflesia has more than thirty different species. This plant is found only in Southeast Asia. Rafflesia arnoldi flower Grows only on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. All other species are in Java, the Philippines and Malacca. Giant flowers grow only in the jungle, but because of their massive cutting down the plants can soon completely disappear from our planet.

Description of the flower

The largest flower is rafflesia. It belongs to the parasitic species. The flower does not have a stem and leaves, but it is attached to the suckers. They are inside the plant. With the help of suckers, Rafflesia provides itself with nutrients that are necessary for life.

The only part of the plant that is visible is the flower. It sprouts through the bark. The flower grows from 60 to 100 centimeters in diameter, weight reaches eight kilograms. Color - brownish-reddish, with large white spots. The size of the flowers depends on the type of plant.

For example, the weight of arnoldi rafflesia can be up to ten kilograms, and the diameter of the opened bud - up to a meter. At the Patm, it is much smaller - only thirty centimeters. The diameter of the Rafflesia rhyzantes and saprias varies in the range of 10-20 cm.

Rafflesia - a flower that has five fleshy petals three centimeters thick, which are attached to the core in the form of a bowl. In its center is a column (or column), expanding upward. There is a disk covered with spines.

Reproduction of a flower

Rafflesia has fruits reminiscent of huge berries, which contain many seeds (up to four million). Of course, they are inedible, and they are easily poisoned. The plant itself can not reproduce itself. It helps insects and animals. They attack fruits and carry seeds through the jungle. Insects also attract a bright color and smell. When moving their legs fall into a furrow, and the seeds are stuck with sticky pollen. But even from a million spores only dozens grow.

Bloom

The victims of the plant are mostly trees, in which stems or roots are damaged. In this case, no harm is done to them. Rafflesia is a giant flower, but it grows slowly. The place to which the plant sucked begins to swell a year later. This period can be eighteen months. A full bud appears after about 2-3 years.

Pollen rafflesia is mostly flies. They are attracted by the putrid smell emanating from the flower. The very same plant lives for a long time. Bud can ripen for three years, and a few more months is required to open the flower. His life after the opening of the bud lasts only a few days. Then the flower begins to rot, gradually turning into a black, shapeless mass.

After the completion of the process, a new ovary is formed. It develops for seven months. Then on the place of the ovary appears a small fruit, like a huge berry. It contains very small seeds the size of a poppy seed.

Use of Rafflesia

The flower of Rafflesia, photo of which is in this article, is used in folk medicine. The plant is used for recovery after childbirth. Also, flowers are used as an aphrodisiac. Properties that are attributed to him, do not have scientific confirmation.

Interesting Facts

The inhabitants of the islands of the Philippines and Indonesia are convinced that the rafflesia (giant flower) promotes the return of potency. Women after giving birth to return a slender figure make an extract from the kidneys of the plant. This same tool has long been used by aborigines as a hemostatic natural drug.

In Malaysia, there is a park-reserve, in which rafflesia is grown specially. And in many varieties. For the constant attraction of tourists, the timing of the opening of the Rufflesia buds is selected so that during the high season you can admire the magnificent giant flower. Of course, this increases the interest of tourists to this country.

Rafflesia has a competitor - amorphophallus titanic. It has the highest inflorescence. The plant produces an unpleasant odor, and the width of the flowers is as close as possible to the size of the rafflesia.