Rafflesia kerrii (Rafflesia kerrii)

Description

Rafflesia kerrii is a member of the genus Rafflesia. It is found in the rainforest of southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia, with the most famous population in the Khao Sok National Park. The local Thai names are Bua Phut (บัวผุด), Yan Kai Tom (ย่านไก่ต้ม) and Bua Tum (บัวตูม). The red flowers typically have a diameter of 50–90 cm (19.5–35.5 in) and smell awfully of rotten meat to attract flies for pollination. This species has some claim to being the world's largest flower, for although the average size of R. arnoldi is greater than the average R. kerrii, there have been two recent specimens of exceptional size: One specimen found in the Lojing Highlands of peninsular Malaysia on April 7, 2004 by Prof. Mat-Salleh and Mat Ros measured 111 cm (43.5 in) in width, while another found in August 2007 in Kelantan State, peninsular Malaysia by Dr. Gan Canglin measured 112 cm (44 in). The photograph of Dr Gan with the flower clearly shows that the coronal ring is 35 to 40 cm (14 to 15.5 in) in width; the largest corona ever reported anywhere. The plant is a parasite to the wild grapes of the genus Tetrastigma (T. leucostaphylum, T. papillosum and T. quadrangulum), but only the flowers are visible. Small buds appear along the trunk and roots of the host, which after 9 months open the giant flowers. After just one week the flower dies. The species seems to be flowering seasonally, as flowers are only reported during the dry season, from January to March, and more rarely till July. The flower is endangered. Though already naturally rare, tourists trying to get close to the flower for photos easily trample the host plant or young buds. Also the locals collect both buds and flowers both as a delicacy as well as for its claimed medical powers. A concoction of cooked buds or flowers is used as a general tonic, to help for fever or backache or even as a sexual stimulant. However, western medicine doesn't recognize any medical power of the flower. The flower is the symbol flower of Surat Thani Province, which is the location of the Khao Sok NP.