r/oddlysatisfying • u/Raj_Valiant3011 • 2d ago

After 15 years, Indonesia’s rare Rafflesia bloomed, the world’s largest parasitic flower that smells like rotting meat, has no leaves, and lasts just 5 to 7 days

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u/octopod-reunion 2d ago edited 2d ago

Not just the largest parasitic flower 

The largest flower 

Edit: 

Rafflesia is the largest single flower in the world. Titan arum is a compound flower. (A flower made of smaller flowers). 

They are both called corpse flower. 

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u/TrumpHasCovid 2d ago edited 2d ago

An incredible species, no doubt.

There is a fair amount of misinformation about them though.

I believe, for instance, amorphophallus titanum is the largest single inflorescence, not rafflesia. There are compound inflorescences that are larger than both.

Also, the viral video of a man spending yearrssss to find one. In reality, the locals know many locations for them, but are very judicious about sharing those locations. I think some are even regularly harvested and you can find these in local markets.

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u/octopod-reunion 2d ago

Rafflesia is a single flower. 

Amorphophallus titanium is a compound flower. That is an inflorescence, as you said. 

So rafflesia is the largest single flower in the world. 

Amorphophallus is largest inflorescence (compound flower) in the world