The largest flower in the world is the rare blood-red Rafflesia arnoldii, which is also known as largest individual flower on earth ,which can grow to 3 feet across and weigh up to 24 pounds ,found growing on the jungle floor in the rainforests of Indonesia, Malaya, Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines.

This beauty is a parasitic plant that grows as thread-like strands of tissue which attaches itself to a host plant such as the tropical Tetrastigma grape vine, completely embedding itself to feast upon its water and nutrients, which is why it was nicknamed the corpse flower.

It bears no visible leaves, roots, or stem .since they don’t make photosynthesis, Rafflesia do not need these organs. The strange plant emits a repulsive rotten-flesh stench which attracts insects such as carrion flies that pollinate the plant that would send humans scurrying the opposite direction if it weren’t for its spectacular splendor.

The flower consists of 5 dark red, leathery petals with white spots surrounding a domed cavity, and a central column is covered by a disc of spines, the function of which is unknown. If the female flower is pollinated, a spongy fruit develops about 6 inches wide containing thousands of seeds about one millimeter long, but it’s not known how they’re dispersed.

The flowers are unisexual and thus proximity of male and female flowers is vital for pollination, making successful pollination a rare event. Several species of Rafflesia grow in the jungles of southeast Asia including the Philippines, many of which are threatened or endangered. How many of these strange plants still survive is unknown, but as the remaining primary forests of Borneo and Sumatra disappear, it can only be assumed that their numbers are dwindling.

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