MadSci Network: Botany
Query:

Re: # of seeds a Rafflesia flower has

Area: Botany
Posted By: Hurley Shepherd, Agricultural Research, USDA Southern Regional Center
Date: Fri Jul 18 11:30:37 1997
Area of science: Botany
ID: 867980508.Bt
Message:
The rafflesia is an interesting flower, and not just because of its large size, 
almost 1 meter in diameter. Unlike most plants it does not make its own food. It 
is a parasite which grows inside  a species of grape vine in Malaysia and 
Indonesia.  Only the flowers come to the outside.  The flower smells like 
rotting meat to attract flies.  The flies carry pollen from the male flower to 
the female flower.  The female flower produces many, many tiny black seeds, 
which is good because the chances of landing in a suitable site to grow (on a 
vine of the right kind) are small.  

You can find botanical information on the Rafflesia family in Watson and 
Dallwitz "The Families of Flowering Plants" at http://www.keil.ukans.edu/delta/
angio/www/rafflesi.htm this site.

You can visit via the internet a place (with pictures) where research is done on 
rafflesia at http://www.fsh.ukm.my/fsh/dept/bb/raff/raffles.htm  this site.

Your question also shows one of the problems of the internet.  You can't believe 
everything you find there.  Always try to consider who is giving the 
information.


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