MadSci Network: Botany |
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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