Saturday, February 1, 2014

Rafflesia

Now this is an interesting plant!


Rafflesia 

Rafflesia (răflē´zhə), any of a genus (Rafflesia) of parasitic plants native to the rain forests of the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Philippines. The plants have no roots, stems, or leaves, consisting of threadlike growths on the tissues of the vine that hosts them. They produce large buds that may take 10 months to open into huge five-petaled flowers, which in the largest species (Rafflesia arnoldii) measure a yard (1 m) or so across. The flowers of most species have the distinctive odor of rotting flesh. All species are endangered or threatened. Rafflesia species are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Rafflesiales, family Rafflesiaceae.

Rafflesia description

KingdomPlantae
PhylumTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderProteaceae
FamilyRafflesiaceae
GenusRafflesia
The dramatic Rafflesia flowers are the largest single flowers in the world; the leathery petals can reach over 90 centimetres across. Rafflesia is a parasite that depends completely upon its host; the majority of the plant’s tissues exist as thread-like strands entirely within the host’s cells. These host plants are vines of Tetrastigma spp., and the Rafflesia plant is itself not visible until the reproduction stage when flowers first bud through the woody vine and then open into the magnificent spectacle that is world-renowned today. The flowers can take up to ten months to develop from the first visible bud to the open bloom, which may last no more than a few days. Currently 17 species of Rafflesia are recognised and these mainly differ in the morphology of their flowers. In general however, the flowers consist of five leathery petals that are orange in colour and mottled with cream-colored warts. There is a deep well in the centre of the flower containing a central raised disc raised that supports many vertical spines. The sexual organs are located beneath the rim of the disk, and male and female flowers are separate.










                         
Rafflesia cut-away



An interesting plant -  have you ever seen one?



6 comments :

  1. Never seen or even heard of this pant. And I love unusual plants. Even collect some like Amorophalus bulbifer aka Voodoo Lily. One species, titanum, also smells like rotting flesh. I am not allowed to have one of those. Another I have tried to raise is the ghost orchid but have failed miserably. It has no leaves, only roots and flowers. Dendrophylax lindenii, old name polyrrhiza lindenii. They are native to S. Florida and the Carribean.
    The A. titanum is native to the same area as the Rafflesia.
    Neither of these are parasitic.
    I will send photos via email.
    Terry
    Fla.

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    1. Rafflesia was one of the names of unusual plants in a puzzle that I was doing. 'Natch I had to look it up and bingo! - a post! Will check my e-mail - Thanks!

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  2. Pant = plant. Some day I will learn to proofread before posting. Or not.

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    1. Wow...had never seen or heard of these....that's my something new for today :))

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    2. Reminds me of those horror movies from the late 50's - atomic plants and animals!

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