Rafflesia Arnoldi and Amorphofallus Titanium - the largest flowers in the world

What is not present on our amazing and unique planet! Sometimes you wonder when you meet unusual animals, inhabitants of the sea depths or plants. They, like people, try to adapt to life on earth, evolving over the years and acquiring the forms and abilities that enable them to survive. On the planet there are many interesting plants, but I would like to highlight among them and look more closely at the largest flowers in the world. The title of the largest and most extensive representative of the flora was earned by Rafflesia Arnoldi.

The champion grows in the tropical forests of Indonesia and the Philippines. It was first discovered in 1818 by the English botanist Joseph Arnold and naturalist Stamford Raffles on the island of Sumatra. By the way, in honor of its discoverers, the flower was also named. Rafflesia Arnoldi in the XIX century recognized the whole world, but this does not mean that before this no one saw this plant. Local residents have long known about it and called it "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. In the damaged parts of the vines are seeds that germinate there and parasitize, penetrating the tissues. Rafflesia Arnoldi is also called "cadaverous flower" or "cadaverous lily", and all thanks to its hideous 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. While the bud blossoms, it will take about 9 months. After maturing, a fetus is formed, which can only be crushed by a very large animal, for example an elephant. Rafflesia Arnoldi consists of five petals, which blossom in four days. It does not have leaves, roots or stems, it grows directly from the vine. Of a single fruit, about 3 million seeds are produced.

The title "The biggest flowers in the world" is worn not only by Rafflesia Arnoldi, but also by the tallest plant - Amorphofallus Titanium, also called "snake palm", "cadaverous flower", "lily Voodoo". Its inflorescence reaches a 3-meter height. It is a structure made up of a huge number of small female and male flowers. Most of the time the plant spends in a dormant state in the form of a large tuber weighing 50 kg and up to 50 cm in diameter. In the spring period, a stalk appears on which a dissected leaf develops.

Blossomed the largest flower in Stuttgart, its height was 3.3 m. One specimen grows in the English botanical garden, but his homeland is Indonesia. The photo of the largest flower is amazing, what can I say if I see it live? But still not every florist will agree to have such a giant in his collection, because Amorphofallus Titanium is not only the highest, but also the most foul-smelling plant in the world. The flower appears only once in three years and pleases with its presence for three days, after which it fades, and in its place grow 6-meter leaves.