Have you ever seen a rafflesia? It is the largest flower on earth. A rafflesia can be one meter across. There are more than fourteen different kinds of rafflesia, and they are all very rare. They grow only in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
The rafflessia plant has no roots. It takes the food and water it needs from other plants. Rafflesia flowers do not smell good. They smell like bad meat. This strange smell is very important because it brings insects that help it to flower.
The flower stays open for one week. After that it dies and all you see is a small pool of black liquid.
Years ago, people sold rafflessia flowers in the market. People wanted to but them to make medicine. Now there are so few rafflessia plant that you will be very lucky if you ever see one.
