Rafflesia Arnoldi: The Giant Padma

The giant Padma (Latin: Rafflesia arnoldii) is a mandatory parasite plant known for having very large flowers, even the largest flower in the world. It grows in the plant tissue vine (liana) Tetrastigma and has no leaves so it is not able to photosynthesize.

first discovered in 1818 in the tropical forests of Bengkulu (Sumatra) somewhere near the Manna River, Lubuk Tapi, South Bengkulu District.

Flowers are not rooted parasites, leafless, and not stemmed. Flower diameter when blooming can reach 1 meter with weight about 11 kilogram.

Flowers are only about a week old (5-7 days) and after that wither and die.