Corpse lily: The largest and smelliest bloom in the world
What all adjectives can you use for a flower? Well, a few that instantly come to the mind are - delicate, fragrant, beautiful. But what if we told you that you cannot use these for all flowers? Yes, not every flower is dainty, nor do they emit fragrance like your favourite roses. In fact, flowers can be bulky, odorous and ugly too!
Take Rafflesia arnoldii for example. It is the world's largest bloom and more commonly known as the corpse lily because of its odour. This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia.
But what makes it smell so bad?
The obvious question which can cross your mind now is that why on earth would the flower smell so bad? Well, there is a reason for that too. This flower’s gigantic petals emit a repulsive scent to attract flies and other insects. These flies and other insects pollinate the plant so the flower can continue the reproductive process – which is responsible for the putrid stench.
World’s largest bloom
Rafflesia can grow to be 3 feet across and can weigh up to 6 kilograms! Wow, that’s huge!
What is even more amazing is that you cannot see its leaves, roots or stem, but only its petals. This is because Rafflesia actually grows out of the neighbouring wild grapes vines (plants whose stems requires support and climb by tendrils or creeps along the ground). In fact, it is also dependent on these vines to survive. But why is that so?
Well, rafflesia attaches the strands of its tissue to the wild grapes’ host cells (living cells that serve as a shelter and a food source to the foreign organism), absorbing its nutrients and water and growing until erupting from the vines. When it erupts out of the vines, the only part that you would be able to see on the outside is its enormous rubbery petals that stink like rotting flesh.
This process happens only once a year when Rafflesia grows to its maximum diameter with five leathery, red spotted petals around a bowl-like centre. It swallows flies and insects for its sustenance. Almost nine months elapse between the stages from seed to a pod to flower, with the final display staying in bloom for only a few days.
Rafflesia: A popular bloom
Rafflesia has 28 known species and is native to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. But, the flower’s most famous population is found in Kao Sok National Park, Thailand.
They are actually celebrated in their native countries so much so that you could even find them on their stamps, currency, and even bags of rice. If you a food lover, you can try out the Rafflesia delicacy in Thailand made out of its buds and bloom. The plant is also thought to have medicinal powers in some parts of southeast Asia.
Vulnerable to extinction
Unfortunately, this flower is difficult to cultivate outside of its native rainforests as it cannot grow in captivity. This makes it vulnerable to extinction.