By Caylene, Jade & Joel

Rafflesia description Several species of Rafflesia grow in the jungles of Southeast Asia, all of them threatened or endangered. Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest; its blossom attains a diameter of nearly a meter and can weigh up to 11 kg. Not only is it the world's largest flower, it is one of the most bizarre and improbable organisms on the planet. It produces no leaves, stems or roots but lives as a parasite on the Tetrastigma vine, which grows only in primary (undisturbed) rainforest. Only the flower or bud can be seen; the rest of the plant exists only as filaments within its unfortunate host. The blossom is pollinated by flies attracted by its scent, which resembles that of carrion.

Largest Flower The Rafflesia is rare and fairly hard to locate. It is especially difficult to see in bloom; the buds take many months to develop and the blossom lasts for just a few days. How many of these strange plants still survive is unknown, but the last of them can be expected to vanish as the remaining primary forests of Borneo and Sumatra are burned. All species of Rafflesia are threatened or endangered. Much of the rainforest is being destroyed for conversion into farmland or for use as timber. Rafflesia buds are susceptible to trampling by forest animals. Moreover, the local people harvest the buds and sell them for use as medicine. Although these factors contribute to the decreasing numbers of Rafflesia, measures have been taken to conserve the species.

Food and feeding Life cycle The visible part of the Rafflesia’s life cycle happens only when it is ready to reproduce. A tiny bud forms on the outside of the vine’s roots or stem, which develops over a period of about a year to a cabbage-like head that eventually opens to reveal the flower. Inside the flower is a spiked disk, to which either stigma or stamens are attached, depending on the sex of the plant. The odor of the plant attracts flies and beetles into the plant to pollinate it. Rafflesia is totally dependant upon a vine called Tetrastigma, which is related to the grapevine. Lacking roots, leaves and stems, the Rafflesia are parasitic upon their host vines, draining nourishment

Medicinal Uses The bud was once sought after as a traditional medicine. The buds were boiled in water and the decoction given to recuperating new mothers, to help them regain their strength. It is not known if some tribal elders still revere the bud for this purpose, but like many of the other plants in the rain forest, the Rafflesia's true value may take a long time to be realised.