Indonesia is home to Rafflesia arnoldii, the world’s largest individual flower. This remarkable plant is native to the rainforests of Sumatra and associated parts of Indonesia, where it grows as a parasite inside vines of the genus Tetrastigma.
Rafflesia has no ordinary leaves, stems, or roots. Instead, most of its life is spent hidden within its host. When it blooms, the flower emerges directly from the vine and can reach roughly one metre across, although size varies.
The flower produces a strong odor resembling rotting flesh. That smell attracts carrion flies, which help pollinate it. Its reddish-brown, spotted appearance reinforces its reputation as one of the rainforest’s strangest plants.
Rafflesia arnoldii is often confused with the titan arum, another giant Indonesian plant. Titan arum produces the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence, whereas Rafflesia produces the largest individual flower. The distinction explains why both plants are frequently described as record-holders.