World’s Largest Flower Finds a Home!
I just read an article in Smithsonian magazine that the world’s largest flower has recently, finally been classified into a family name. Here’s an excerpt:
The world’s largest flower, indigenous to Indonesia, has finally found a home on the tree of life. Reeking of rotting flesh, Rofflesia arnoldii has no leaves, stems or roots- features typically used to classify plants. But a Harvard-led study that analyzed DNA from the flower and its few relatives now says they belong to the family that includes the poinsettia and rubber tree.
The Rofflesia is a parasitic plant that invades it’s host, the Tetrastigma vine. Found typically in rain forests of Indonesia, it can grow over 36 inches in diameter, and weigh 25 pounds.
Image: source