A FLOWER A YARD ACROSS 



creatures have entered the chambers, the only remains of 

 them that one meets with are claws, legs, bristles, and little 

 amorphous lumps, their sarcode-tlesh and blood having van- 

 ished and left no trace, we must suppose that the absorption 

 of nutriment from the dead prey here ensues. . . ." ^ 



But strange as these Broomrapes and Toothworts may be, 

 they are quite inconspicuous as compared with the gigantic 

 parasites found in Sumatra and Java. 



In 1818, when Sir Stamford Raffles was making a tour in 

 the interior of Sumatra, his party came across one of those 

 extraordinary plants which have been called after him. 



Imagine a gigantic flower in shape resembling a very fleshy 

 forget-me-not, but more than a yard across ! The colour is 

 a livid, fleshy tint, and the smell is like that of a charnel- 

 house. This extraordinary Rafflesia Arnoldii is the biggest 

 flower in the world. It has no proper stems or leaves, but 

 consists merely of this huge flower-bud attached to the 

 roots of Figs, etc., which traverse the ground in these 

 forests. It is said to be only found in places frequented by 

 elephants, which are supposed to carry its seeds on their feet. 



There are four other kinds known : all of them occur in 

 Sumatra, Java, and other neighbouring islands. R. Padma 

 for example, has a flower about eighteen inches across. The 

 central part is a dirty blood-red, while the lobes have almost 

 the colour of the human skin. This also has a " cadaverous 

 smell, anything but pleasant." 



These weird Rafflesias seated on the roots " which wind 

 about on the dark forest ground" have impressed every 

 observer. 



Yet if one glances back, it is interesting to see how 

 insensible are the transitional steps which lead from indepen- 

 ^ Kerner and Oliver, Natwral History of Plants^ vol. 1, p. 136. 

 Y 337 



