82 REMARKABLE FLOWERS. [CHAP. 
petals and nectary being but in few places less than 
a quarter of a inch thick, and in some places three- 
quarters of an inch; the substance of it was very 
succulent. When I first saw it a swarm of flies was 
hovering over the mouth of the nectary, and appa- 
rently laying their eggs in the substance of it. It 
had precisely the smell of tainted beef.” The plant 
—for although it entirely lacks stems and leaves, it 
is yet a complete plant—is a parasite upon various 
species of Cissus—a kind of vine—appearing upon 
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the stem and roots when the leaves and flowers of 
the foster plant are withering. The unexpanded 
buds of this plant are said to resemble large close 
cabbages, and, when open, to give forth an odour of © 
carrion, which evidently attracts insects for the pur- 
pose of fertilisation. This deception practised upon 
insects by this evil odour is further assisted by the 
petals being flesh-coloured. These petals are about 
a foot long, and at some parts three-quarters of an 
inch in thickness, whilst the central cavity of the 
