Borneo Rafflesia Arnoldi
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| Borneo Rafflesia Arnoldi
The
rafflesia queen of parasite is one of the world's rarest fascinating flowers. It has no root, stem, branch or leaf ...like a fungi.
It largest parasitic plant, It
attaches itself to a host plant to obtain water and nutrients. The plant
produces no leaves, stems or roots and does not contain chlorophyll and
are therefore incapable of photosynthesis. It is an endoparasite of
vines spreading its roots inside the tissue of the vine to obtain water
and nutrients. It is totally dependant upon a vine called Tetrastigma.
To reproduce, a rafflesia begins to smell like rotting meat near the
end of its life cycle. The smell attracts flies which inadvertently
carry pollen to other rafflesia flowers. To make
matters more difficult, rafflesia flowers are unisex and are usually
found within range of the same sex. Insects not only have to carry
pollen to another rafflesia, they must take it to the opposite sex and
do so within the brief flowering window of three to five days!If successful, the rafflesia flower produces seedy fruit around six
inches in diameter. Although not proven, squirrels and small animals
are thought to carry the seeds, helping the rafflesia to spread.
 Perhaps the only part of Rafflesia that is identifiable as distinctly plant-like are the flowers;, have a reddish-brown coloration and stink of rotting flesh. This scent attracts insects such as flies, insect,mouse .  |
Life Duration of Rafflesia;
9Months from bud to blossom just like a human baby! From seed to bud, it takes no less than about one and a half years while from bud to full bloom takes another nine months. The seeds germinate and spread fine threads inside the vine.The flower just last for few days after blossom.
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