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6 of the Biggest Flowers on Earth

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6 of the Biggest Flowers on Earth

By David DeFranza, TreeHugger

For millions of years, flowers have dotted the landscape. Their simple manipulative evolutionary innovation—using color and scent to trick insects and animals into doing their bidding—has persisted and proven to be highly effective. Today, flowering plants are among the most diverse classes of life on the planet.

Far from the garden varieties, these massive flowers show just how far the adaptations have been pushed.

Rafflesia arnoldii

Among all of the large flowers, Rafflesia arnoldi produces the largest single bloom. Native to rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, the flower can be up to three feet in diameter and has weighed in at more than 24 pounds.

More than its size, however, Rafflesia is known for its scent. Dubbed the “corpse flower,” the large bloom reeks of rotting meat—an adaptation it has developed to attract the flies that help pollinate the plant.

The unusual flower only grows on the tendrils of the Tetrastigma vine, which in turn only grows in pristine rainforest—meaning Rafflesia arnoldii‘s habitat is rapidly disappearing.

Related: 5 Foul-Smelling Flowers from Around the World

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84 comments

+ add your own
Camilla Vaga Camilla V.
10:38PM PDT on Jun 9, 2013

wow thanks

Val M. Val M.
2:27AM PDT on Jun 6, 2013

Thanks

Bryna Pizzo Bryna P.
3:18PM PDT on Mar 23, 2013

Thank you for sharing these astounding flowers!

Melania Padilla Melania P.
11:32AM PST on Jan 28, 2013

Nature rocks!

Kathy Perez Kathy P.
1:52PM PDT on Sep 25, 2012

beautiful and unique. nature is awe inspiring

Armand B. Armand B.
5:42PM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

Thank you. They had a corpse flower on display at UConn a few years ago but I didn't get a chance to see/smell it.

Cheryl I. Cheryl I.
11:36AM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

Wow, thank you

Dale Overall Dale O.
8:24AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Fascinating and resplendent, lovely flowers in so many parts of the world. Sad that some are endangered.

Carol R. Carol R.
8:41PM PDT on Jul 29, 2012

cool

John S. John S.
3:03AM PDT on Jul 25, 2012

Thanks, interesting.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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