The biggest flower in the world: you will be surprised!

Rafflesia - this is the creation of nature bearsThe proud title of "the largest flower in the world." True, this plant surprises not only the size, but also its other qualities, which have little to do with the usual ideas about colors. After all, the largest flower is a fetid, bright red plant, sometimes exceeding human growth. By the way, because of a hideous smell, rafflesia is often called a cadaverous lily. Although the locals call this plant "lotus flower" ("bunga patmah"). You can see it in the tropical forests of Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan) and the Philippines.

Its name is the biggest flower in the worldin honor of the officer T. Raffles and the botanist D. Arnold. The discovery was made on the island of Sumatra. The above-mentioned pioneers measured the flower, gave it a name and a scientific description.

Surprisingly, the biggest flower inthe world is not able to independently synthesize part of the necessary organic and mineral substances. Therefore, the named plant, in spite of its dimensions, parasitizes on vines. To do this, it produces special threads that penetrate the tissues of the lianas, not bringing them at the same time not the slightest harm. This flower has no roots and green leaves.

The growth of rafflesia is not too fast.The bark of the plant, under which the seed of the parasite flower passes, swells after 1.5 years, and 9 months later a red flower is dissolved. Rafflesia consists of 5 thick petals of brick-red color with bright white outgrowths reminiscent of warts. From a distance the described flower is like a giant fly agaric. True, he blossoms only 4 days. By the form of rafflesia resembles rotting meat and has the same cadaveric smell. Thus, the world's largest flower can be sniffed faster than seen. After a flowering period, the rafflesia decomposes for several weeks and soon turns into a black, shapeless mass. If a pollen enters the female flower, then the development of the fruit starts, in which there are thousands of seeds.

It is an unusual smell of rafflesia attractsflies pollinating this flower. Getting on the floral disk, the flies flounder in it, gradually falling all the way down. In the ring furrow, thin hairs direct the flies to the stamens, which are deposited on their back with sticky pollen. Weighed down insects are sent to the female flowers, fertilizing their semolina. But after the plant matures, a large animal needs help, capable of crushing the fruit and transferring the seeds of rafflesia to another place. It is worth noting that the blossoming largest flower in the world in diameter can be equal to 1 m and weigh about 8 kg. In addition, rafflesia has the widest inflorescence.

At the moment, scientists identify 12 speciesrafflesia. The most famous among them are Rafflesia tuan Muda and Rafflesia Arnoldi. The named species have the largest flowers. Even rafflesia sapri in diameter reaches 15-20 cm. It is interesting that Indonesians claim that the extract from the kidneys of the named plant contributes to the restoration of the figure after childbirth. As for scientists, they recognize that the life of this unique flower has not yet been fully explored.