Saturday

The Giant Flower - Rafflesia

One of the major attractions of Sabah, besides Mount Kota Kinabalu is Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world! On the way to Mount Kota Kinabalu National Park, a banner and a hand made sign board attracted us. It was a private plantation that had Rafflesia.

We were told that the flower stinks even before we could see it. First, there was a waft of rotten fish smell, but as we neared the flower, we forgot all about the smell as we were awed by its gigantic beauty!

Click on the photos to enlarge...

Rafflesia - in full bloom

The inlaid photo boasts that the flower was 83 cms large, and can be reached within 3 minutes walk. A 5-6 year old girl (probably the owner's kid), guided along the short trek. Well, it took us about 10 minutes walk, but it was well worth.

Close-up

The guide, the youngest one I've ever come across, was pretty good in explaining about flower. Here are some of the interesting stuff we heard from the guide:

  • Rafflesia is poisonous, thatz why the flower was fenced off!
  • Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that just absorbs food and nutrients from its host
  • The flower can grow more than 100 cms in diameter
  • The life of the flower is about 1 week, and
  • It starts stinking terribly when it dies!
Rafflesia - Offsprings!

At least one bud will be around the full bloom, nature's way to preserve its species!

You might also like to read/see pics of my other Borneo experiences...

Poring - Canopy Walkway Bridge
Aerial Views - Borneo

Water ways of Brunei - Air Kampung, Venice of the East

17 comments:

Donna said...

That looks incredible and strangely dangerous! the opening is like a giant mouth that wants to devour anything that comes near itm LOL!

Donna said...

Well, what an unusual Flower! It'll work for the Brenda Photo Challenge!Hahaaa
Happy weekend to you....
Donna

Irene said...

So good to see flowers I'm not familiar with. Thanks for a great post. Have a wonderful weekend.

Kels said...

Whoa! That is the freakiest flower/plant thing I've ever seen!!!
Totally cool. :)
Have a wonderful day! xxxx~Kelsey

SUGAR MOON said...

Very interesting. I've never heard of it before now. Great post. Thanks and have a great day!!!

Brenda said...

Wow! Unusually lovely.

ThirtySeven said...

That's an awesome looking predatory flower. but.. what's with 'Ratilator' all over your photos? I get that they're yours.. Just distracts from the pictures.

Barbara said...

Fascinating

Dave said...

Very cool plant - would be neat to revisit it when it's in full bloom!

Anonymous said...

Great photographs and interesting info. Without reading the text this flower looked like a sea creature.

Kim, USA said...

These is pretty cool photo! Love it!

Yellow Bird

Karen said...

It looks alien. You photographed it well!

Kala said...

What an unusual flower. The details you've captured are fantastic!

Happy Macro Monday

Fotokarusellen said...

Very interesting post. Great shots. Amazing.

Autumn Belle said...

Seeing the rafflesia is a once in a lifetime experience. I have never seen one yet!

Ever Green Tree said...

Looks both Exotic n spooky at the same time.... Lovely shots! Thx for sharing.

magiceye said...

wow that is amazing!

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