2008年10月21日星期二

Giant flowers




































































The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) has the largest unbranched inflorescence, which can be over 3 meters high. The titan arum is indigenous to the equatorial rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. To attract pollinators, it gives off a fragrance that smells like a decomposing mammal. Each titan arum has a single gigantic leaf that can be 6 meters tall and 5 meters across. 

Rafflesia arnoldii produces the largest individual flower on earth. This species occurs only in Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia. The flower of R. arnoldii can be 1 meter across and weigh 11 kilograms. R. arnoldii shares the nickname "corpse flower" with the titan arum. Lacking any observable leaves, stems or even roots, R. arnoldii lives as a parasite. Similar to fungi, Rafflesia individuals grow as thread-like strands of tissue completely embedded within and in intimate contact with surrounding host cells from which nutrients and water are obtained.   

These two plants have impressively massive reproductive organs. The largest reproductive organ of all, however, belongs to the Tailpot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) of South Asia. This large palm bears a 6-8 m long branched inflorescence consisting of up to several million flowers. C. umbraculifera flowers only once. The plant dies after fruiting. 

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