How long is the rafflesia flower

However, it is also extremely shy and temperamental. Any slight disturbances to a known Rafflesia flower site could cause pollination in that area to cease or affect the chances of buds to bloom. Instead, it attaches itself to a host plant, Tetrastigma vine, which grows only in the undisturbed rain forests to obtain water and nutrients. It takes 18 months for tissue within the vine to become a small brown bud.

The bud then takes months to mature into the size of a cabbage. Equals to 2 years and 3 months. The rotten smell of the flower is due to the reddish tentacle-like inside the corolla of petals. Each mature blossom of Rafflesia can produce millions seeds, but only percent will continue to survive. For this plant to germinate, the seed must find its way to the host vine. Rafflesia was thought to be pollinated by elephant but in fact, it is pollinated by the Calliphora vicina and Lucilia caesar , commonly known as blowfly.

These two species are parasites to the elephant. The existence of this Rafflesia flower is special for the locals in Southeastern Asia as it blooms just at the vicinity of their backyards. We should consider conserving the nature to help this endangered species to continue its existence in this Earth.

A Rafflesia flower can grow up to a metre in diameter, and the biggest can weigh up to 7kg. Despite having such a huge flower, the parasitic plant has no root or stem and grows inside its host, a Tetrasigma vine, which is of the grape family. There are 20 Rafflesia species in the world, with Malaysia and Indonesia having eight species each. When a Rafflesia flower blooms, it emits an overpowering scent of rotten meat. Rafflesia Facts Considered one of the rarest in the world not only for its gigantic petals but also for the putrid smell it emits to attract pollinators and prey, the genus rafflesia is endemic in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Arnoldii, Indonesia, Stamford Raffles and James Arnold Knowing Rafflesia The Rafflesia may be the heavyweight champion among blooms, but it is also extremely shy and temperamental. Interesting Facts about Rafflesia The parasitic Rafflesia can grow up to a metre in diameter world record: cm The flower withers only after emitting a stench to draw insects.

The plant cannot grow in captivity, and, as most occurrences of Rafflesia contain only male or female flowers, pollinations is rare. A fly must land first on a male flower, avoid being eaten, and then transport the pollen to a female flower. If pollination does occur, the flower produces a smooth-skinned fruit, which is actually a berry about 5-inches in diameter. Fortunately, squirrels and birds enjoy this fruit, and are therefore able to help with seed dispersal.

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