Rafflesia, genus of various parasitic, stemless, leafless, and rootless plants, distinctive for their putrid odor. The plants are native to the Malay Archipelago and Indonesia, and grow on the tropical forest floor. Rafflesia do not use photosynthesis to manufacture nutrients and instead obtain food from tissues of the tropical grape vines that they live on. The large, pink, five-lobed flowers are pollinated by flies that feed on rotting animal flesh. The blossom of one species, the corpse lily, is recognized as the largest flower in the world. It grows up to 91 cm (36 in) in width, with petals 3 cm (1 in) thick and 46 cm (18 in) long, and weighs as much as 7 kg (15 lb).
Until recently, scientists were uncertain how to classify rafflesia. A study of the plant’s DNA material published in 2007 placed rafflesia in the Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family of flowering plants. The result was a surprise—members of the Euphorbiaceae, which include the rubber tree, castor beans, cassava, and poinsettias, are characterized by having very tiny flowers. More research may reveal what genes cause rafflesia flowers to grow to such gigantic size.
Scientific classification: Rafflesia make up the genus Rafflesia in the family Euphorbiaceae. The corpse lily is classified as Rafflesia arnoldii.
Until recently, scientists were uncertain how to classify rafflesia. A study of the plant’s DNA material published in 2007 placed rafflesia in the Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family of flowering plants. The result was a surprise—members of the Euphorbiaceae, which include the rubber tree, castor beans, cassava, and poinsettias, are characterized by having very tiny flowers. More research may reveal what genes cause rafflesia flowers to grow to such gigantic size.
Scientific classification: Rafflesia make up the genus Rafflesia in the family Euphorbiaceae. The corpse lily is classified as Rafflesia arnoldii.
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