Rafflesia is a parasitic flowering plant with no stems, leaves or true roots. All known species of Rafflesia are threatened or endangered because of habitat disturbance from deforestation.
Even though the flowers are beautiful they smell like rotting flesh so as to attract flies and beetles for cross pollination. Hence the common reference to the plant as the corpse flower.
All species of Rafflesia are facing extinction in the rainforests of peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, southern Thailand, Borneo and southern Philippines, where they are only found.
Rafflesia is an official state flower of Indonesia, Sabah state in Malaysia and Surat Thani Province, Thailand.
Rafflesia arnoldii
One species, Rafflesia arnoldii, has the largest flower on earth that is over 3 feet (100 cm) in diameter, and weighs up to 22 lb (10kg).
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