2007-01-29 09:46:36 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Raffelisia
2007-01-29 09:53:27 · answer #1 · answered by Ellie S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Largest flower up to date is Rafflesia kerrii.
It is a member of the genus Rafflesia. It is found in the rainforest of southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia, with the largest population in the Khao Sok National Park.
The flower is endangered. Though already naturally rare, tourists trying to get close to the flower for photos easily trample the host plant or young buds.
The red flowers have a diameter of 50-90 cm and smell awfully of rotten meat to attract flies for polination.
Bonus information: According to the local people the flower also has medical powers. A tea made from the flower buds is said to help the female uterus to restore after giving birth.
However western medicine doesn't recognize any medical power of the flower.
2007-01-30 03:42:19 · answer #2 · answered by Prof Hao 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
World's Largest Flower - Rafflesia
2007-01-29 09:58:52 · answer #3 · answered by Luke L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Got to agree with jamv0051. The Titan I believe is the largest flower in the world. Kew gardens give it this title in the link below and it's would be highly unlikely for Kew to make a mistake.
http://www.kew.org/plants/titan/index.html
Funny how both of the world's biggest flowers seem to stink. Big it would seem, isn't always beautiful then.
Plant scent has its own scientific field of study by the way if you were into smelly plants.
2007-01-29 22:22:12 · answer #4 · answered by Ian. Garden & Tree Prof. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amorphophallus titanum or it's common name Titan.
Another name is "Mr. Stinky" because when it blooms it emits an odor which exactly mimics those of rotting flesh. This putrid order attracts carrion beetles that pollinate the flower.
After seven years, our plant grew its first flower. The flower may grow up to 4 feet wide and 7 feet tall. And it usually grows up to half a foot per day. Ours opened 55 inches tall, and over 40 inches wide.
http://www.plantsforkids.com/amorphophallus.html
2007-01-29 09:56:42 · answer #5 · answered by jamv0051 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's called something like Rafflesia, and grows in Sumatra. Rather charmingly, it also gives off the smell of rotten meat.
Add
Wild-eep it talking about the Victoria water lily, which has leaves about 6 foot across.
2007-01-29 09:50:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't know about the largest, but the longest is the river Nile .
2007-01-29 09:57:10 · answer #7 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rafflessia a root parasite
2007-01-30 00:14:37 · answer #8 · answered by xyz123 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they've got one in Kew gardens. You could bath in it, and your girlfriends could sit round you on the leaves (or whatever those things are). What it's called, I dunno, sorry.
2007-01-29 09:49:46 · answer #9 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋