On being the largest

I have no idea how it feels to be the largest flower on earth. You will have to ask that to Rafflesia arnoldii. But I definitely know how it smells: like rotting flesh. Yuk! Growing up to 3 ft, there are lots of things that are weird about this plant or should I say flower. For, all that this one seems to have is a flower. No sign whatsoever of stems, leaves (No photosynthesis! Wasn’t it a defining characteristic of being a plant? Got to go back to my 5th std book and make changes) or true roots.



This one belongs to a group of plants called Rafflesia, all of which are parasitic, an endoparasite (grow within the host) to be specific. They specifically parasitize on a member of grape family called Tetrastigma. Rafflesia grow inside the grape plant’s stem penetrating its tissue through a thread like thing called haustorium (Seen in parasitic fungi as well) and absorb all nutrient from it (its like… u make the food, I will put a pipe and suck it out and use it to grow 3ft. Too much of an extravaganza for a parasite).
Once in a while, they put out a bud and after months it flowers, which lasts for few days (~7days). The plant (Rafflesia arnoldii) is unisexual (some species of Rafflesia are bisexual too), so there is a male and female version of the big stinker. Ahh! Now I guess I understand why it stinks! To reproduce it has to pollinate and for that it requires pollinators like flies. And rotting flesh attracts flies. Off comes a fly expecting a feast and Rafflesia sticks its pollens onto its carrier, which unknowingly will transfer the pollen to a female flower. Ingenious! But means by which its seeds are distributed isn’t known for sure, but seems like some shrews eat its fruit (doesn’t that stink?) and thus disperse its seed.

For all this planning and parasitizing, the plant is highly endangered. Blame it on habitat encroachment by humans. That apart there are lots of stuff about Rafflesia that makes them more prone, starting from their requirement of specific host (habitat specificity, occur only in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesian Archipelago). Being unisexual, it’s important that the male and female flowers be close by and that they should open around the same time. And to add to it, they flower only for few days, a time constraint as well. What sort of conservation do you think will work out for this flowering giant? (Grow the grape and put some flies and Rafflesia seeds!). Of so many bizarre designs that nature has come up with, Rafflesia arnoldii, is definitely one.

References:
http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.arn.page.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia_arnoldii