Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Stinking Corpse Lily


Rafflesia arnoldii
was discovered in the Indonesian Rain Forest by an Indonesian guide, working for Joseph Arnold in 1818, thus, deriving it's name from Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition.

The flower of Rafflesia or Corpse Lily is the largest and smelliest flower in the flower. It measures almost 1 m across and weighs approximately one kg. It's a flower with an odour like rotting flesh. the smell attracts flies which helps in the pollination of the flower.


Bud of Rafflesia Flower



Centre View of a Rafflesia Flower






The flowers are found in south-east Asia and has no leaves, stems or roots. Its is a parasite. It steals readily made nutrition by growing thin threads into another plant, such as a jungle vine.

The Rafflesia flower is the state flower of Sabah in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province of Thailand.