Rafflesia arnoldii

The date on this file was 12^th October 1995, and I had a time trying to make it worth reading. Why I wrote this under the idea of two men looking for a stinky flower I don’t know, but it must have made sense at the time.

Rafflesia arnoldii

"Its here, I can smell it" said the man in the tan hat.

         

"All I smell is a dead monkey rotting in the heat" Responded the man in green.

         

"Oh' it’s not far off,” the man in the tan had said as they trudged along through the rain forest. “It’s within ear shot. In a moment you will be gazing on the largest flower in the world." Then they sow it the red petals all five covered with yellow warts. The whole thing was more than a foot across. Growing from the root of a creping plant it is the world’s strangest flower.

         

“The Rafflesia Arnoldii is by far the weirdest thing in the world,” the man in the tan hat said with pride. “Its common name is the Corpse Flower called this for its stench. That rotten stench is why it’s always surrounded by carrion flies. It is very particular; it springs from the roots of Tetrastigma creepers. Its overnight buds grow to the sizes of large cabbages. As many other plants it has a distinguishment between the sexes by unless you want to dissect it you can't tell the difference.”

           

“Are you impressed?” asked the man in the tan hat.

 “I am,” said the man in green. “This big old flower is on the verge of oblivion. Two variations have been lost. It’s one of the many residents of the rain forests. It is not the greatest thing to have at a party, but it has its subtle charms. It lives for 4 days then wilts. It’s hard to cultivate in captivity but it can be done. Personally the only way to describe it is to say disgusting but wondrous. It is a curiosity not fully understood, do too its rarity it is one of the wonders of the plant kingdom. One we have no right to destroy.”