Friday, July 10, 2020

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WTH THE RAFFLESIA

     
 In a 130 million year-old forest older than the Amazon and Congo, the piece de resistance here is the RAFFLESIAAlso infamously known as the STINKING CORPSE LILY, it is one of the world's most distasteful plants. Consider yourself so lucky if you encounter it. I use the word "encounter" because you can go looking for it like the Holy Grail (slight exaggeration here), but finding the Rafflesia is an unexpected chance meeting. I think I can use the phrase, "You don't find it, IT FINDS YOU."

        Gismo Man, Savvy K and I trekked the Belum-Temenggor rain forest. This primary rain forest forms part of the Royal Belum State Park, a primary untouched and protected land mass. The Rafflesia is a rarity, but it can be found here in the Royal Belum as the vines on which the plant grows on is found only in primary rain forests.

Rafflesia arnoldiihas been given the honour as the Earth's largest single flower. It's bloom can stretch three feet in diameter and weigh as much as 20 pounds. If you have any doubts, take a look at its BUDS growing on the vines from where this parasitic plant gets all its water and nutrients. 
It has no roots, stems or leaves but is parasitic on its hosts, the tetrastigma vines. 
The buds have only less than 20% chance of growing into full bloom, a process that takes many months. Sadly the flower lasts for only a few days. 
        The bloom has five huge spotted red-cream petals. Its rotting smell attracts carrion flies and insects into its centre to help pollinate the plant. Pollination of this rare beauty must take place in the few days the plant is in bloom, or sorry ... there will be NO next generation of Rafflesia.

      The bloom has both male and female parts for effective pollination. Thinking about it, the Rafflesia is quite innovative to smell so revolting. Science fact: if you are living deep in the dense, wet jungle floor, it 's no point smelling like a rose as there are no birds or bees visiting you as pollinators. Might be better to be HUGE with a REVOLTING STENCH since only the insect, beetles and flies are aplenty here.


        I would not describe the Rafflesia as beautiful. It is SIMPLY STUNNING and MAJESTIC as it sprawls on the forest floor waiting to be found. I think it is so sad for it to garner the label as one of the world's most distasteful plants.
    Gismo Man captured it. Savvy K was more trusting, "OK, I can smell it from       waayyy over here,"
but I being a scientist WILL never take any written or oral fact for granted. If it is here, I WILL do the test. In this case, smelling its characteristic rotting meat aroma. 
PHEW ... HEAVENLY! Okay it is true, point taken, it smelt real BAD. 

Recently Indonesian conservationists documented the largest specimen of this largest bloom in the world at an almighty 3.6 feet in diameter. 
The Rafflesia tuan-mudae displayed its perfect bloom on 3 January 2020
Acknowledgement: RD Minion, Rojak Daily for above two pictures

Note:

The Rafflesia has been included in the endangered plant list in 1997. It is rapidly loosing its habitat with the clearing of primary rain forests for logging and other agricultural purposes.

4 comments:

  1. That would be an expidition to remember.
    My mother grew dead horse lilies (Helicodiceros muscivorus(. They were much smaller than the gem you featured and had a forgettable flower and a stench to be remembered. Fortunately the blooms lasted only two days.

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    1. Just googled dead horses lilies, it is a large lily flower. Most lilies are tiny compared to it. It is sad the blooms last for such a short time cos i presume these lilies do not bloom often too

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  2. My lilly are in bloom, hope the deer lives them a lone

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  3. Nice to live with nature where deer comes visiting but not great for your lilies i guess!

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