Where does the Rafflesia plant grow?

Rafflesia is endemic in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Known as the corpse flower due to its offending smell, Rafflesia is a parasite to the wild grapes of the vine genus Tetrastigma, which provides everything necessary for Rafflesia to survive.

What does Rafflesia need to grow?

Its survival is completely dependent upon one particular vine— the Tetrastigma. This vine only grows in undisturbed rainforests. The Rafflesia is in fact a parasitic plant with no leaves, stems or roots that attaches itself to the host vine to obtain water, nutrients and physical support.

How does Rafflesia arnoldii reproduce?

Life cycle & reproduction Mature rafflesia plants only flower for 3-5 days. Within this period, flies that are attracted to these flowers will unknowingly transfer pollen from a male to a female plant. After fertilization, the females make fruits.

What is the host plant of Rafflesia?

(Rafflesiaceae) is endemic to Borneo and was recorded from Sarawak and probably Kalimantan. Previous records showed that Tetrastigma rafflesiae (Miq.) Planch. (Vitaceae) is the only host plant for R.

Which type forest is the habitat of world largest flower Rafflesia arnoldii?

rainforests
The flower with the world’s largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii. This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to be 3 feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds! It is a parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem.

What does the Rafflesia flower eat?

And unlike most plants, this flower does not use energy from the Sun to make its own food. Instead, it is a parasite: it gets all its nutrients and water from a host, a vine in the grape family.

How long do Rafflesia plants live?

5-7 days
Furthermore, flower lifespan is only 5-7 days thereby placing a temporal bottleneck on the process of pollination (Beaman et al., 1988; Nais, 2000).

What insects pollinate the Rafflesia arnoldii?

The Rafflesia flowers remain in the bud stage for months and then bloom for just a few days. Within that time, flies have to find at least two flowers and pollinate them.

Where is Rafflesia found in India?

Sapria himalayana, commonly known as the hermit’s spittoon, is a rare holoparasitic flowering plant related to Rafflesia found in the Eastern Himalayas.

Where is Rafflesia found in the Philippines?

The Rafflesia consueloae is found only in the Philippines and so far thrives in only two sites in the Pantabangan watershed area. The Rafflesia is a parasitic plant which can reach up to 1.5 meters in diameter. As such, the world’s largest flowers naturally belong to Rafflesia.

Why does Rafflesia smell bad?

But what makes Rafflesia flowers smell so bad? Turns out there’s a biological function for the repulsive stench: it attracts flies and other insects which pollinate the plant so it can continue the reproductive process. Chemicals like dimethyl disulfide, which contain sulfur, is what creates the rotten smell.

Where is Rafflesia arnoldii found?

Rafflesia arnoldii is found in both secondary and primary rainforests . The only host plant species of R. arnoldii is Tetrastigma leucostaphylum in West Sumatra. Tetrastigma are themselves parasites of a sort, using the strength and upright growth of other surrounding plants to reach the light.

What is the relationship between Rafflesia arnoldii and other plants?

The relationship between Rafflesia Arnoldii and plants the rafflesia interacts with can be different in their own way. When it come to the vine, Rafflesia Arnoldii has a parasitic relationship with it, because while the vine is being harmed, the flower benefits from it.

How does a Rafflesia disperse seeds?

These fruits are consumed by tree shrews, who then help disperse the seeds of the plant. Since the Rafflesia is a unisexual plant and rare in occurrence, there are very rare chances that a fly that sat on a male flower and bearing pollen from that flower will sit on a female flower to transfer the pollen to the female for fertilization. 3.

Can you see Rafflesia outside the plant?

It can only be seen outside the host plant when it is ready to reproduce; the only part of Rafflesia that is identifiable as distinctly plant-like are the flowers, though even these are unusual since they attain massive proportions, have a reddish-brown colouration, and stink of rotting flesh.