Carrion flower: Encyclopedia - Carrion flower

Carrion flower

Stinking flowers or Carrion flowers are remarkably known because they have showy blossoms with the stench of rotting flesh. A typical flower may be stereotyped as a colorful, sweet-smelling structure that attracts insects. A variety of insects find the showy petals and fragrance irresistible, and the reward for their pollination service is a carbohydrate-rich, sugary nectar secretion from the flower. While this scenario fits the majority of flowering plants, there are many notable exceptions. Some plants rely on wind or water for pollination, and produce inconspicuous flowers with copious airborne or water-dispersed pollen and the famous stinking flowers.

The flower with the world's largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii. This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to be 3 feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds! It is a parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. It attaches itself to a host plant to obtain water and nutrients. When in bloom, the Rafflesia emits a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting meat. This odor attracts insects that pollinate the plant.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Carrion flower", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki