‘World’s biggest flower’ that is almost 4ft wide and smells like ROTTING FLESH blooms in Indonesian rainforest – but dies just one week later
- Rafflesia tuan-mudae blooms for a few days and smells like decomposing flesh
- The stench attracts flies and carrion beetles to pollinate the bizarre plant
- Researchers studying the plant say it is the largest of its species ever recorded
A bright red flower reeking of decomposing flesh has bloomed in Indonesia which is more than three feet across (117cm), making it one of the biggest flowers in the world.
Rafflesia tuan-mudae has large petals and blossomed in the Indonesian rainforest before dying after just a week.
Local reports claim the flower is the first of a group of five of the flowers expected to bloom.
The massive flower called Rafflesia Tuan-Mudae is 46 inches (117cm) wide – the biggest of its species ever grown
Rafflesia tuan-mudae has large petals and blossomed in the Indonesian rainforest before dying after just a week. Pictured, a researcher measures its centre
WHAT ARE RAFFLESIA?
Rafflesia is the name of a large group of plants all of which smell of rotting flesh to attract flies and carrion beetles.
The plants lives as a parasite on vines, but only blooms for a few days at a time.
These flies them swarm to the stench and pollinate the flower in its short lifespan.
Other plants in the genus can grow ever larger and one, Rafflesia Arnoldii, inspired the Pokemon character Vileplume.
Rafflesia Arnoldii, inspired the Pokemon character Vileplume (pictured)
A video shows conservationist taking measurement of the flower in the forest of the nature reserve in Marambuang Nagarai Barini village in West Sumatra, Indonesia.
The massive flower called Rafflesia Tuan-Mudae is 46 inches (117cm) wide – the biggest of its species ever grown.
Rafflesia is the name of a large group of plants all of which smell of rotting flesh to attract flies and carrion beetles.
The plants lives as a parasite on vines, but only blooms for a few days at a time.
These flies them swarm to the stench and pollinate the flower in its short lifespan.
All Rafflesia plants smell like rotting flesh, and this particular species has a relatively mild odour.
Other plants in the genus can grow ever larger and one, Rafflesia Arnoldii, inspired the Pokemon character Vileplume.
Ade Putra, from the Indonesia conservation board, said: ‘For this type of species, the diameter is quite large.
‘In 2017 we encountered the same flower with a 107cm diameter.’
According to Ade, based on scientific records and documentation, the diameter size found last month, is the largest for 31 types of Rafflesia flowers in the world.
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All Rafflesia plants smell like rotting flesh, and this particular species has a relatively mild odour
Ade Putra, from the Indonesia conservation board, said: ‘For this type of species, the diameter is quite large’
Rafflesia is the name of a large group of plants all of which smell of rotting flesh to attract flies and carrion beetles
Pictured: Staff from the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency measure the worlds biggest flower. The massive flower called Rafflesia Tuan-Mudae is 117cm wide – the biggest ever grown
Other plants in the genus can grow ever larger and one, Rafflesia Arnoldii, inspired the Pokemon character Vileplume
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