Gallery - Rafflesia

On my visit to the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, a one-of-a-kind flower caught my eye. This flower has got to be the largest I have seen in my entire life. This flower is called the Rafflesia. It is considered a genus of parasitic flowering plants known for producing some of the largest and most unique flowers the world has ever seen. Discovered primarily in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand), these plants are remarkable for their massive looms, producing an enormous single flower, which can grow up to 3 feet of 1 meter in diameter and weigh up to 7 kg. The sad truth about this flower is that its blooming period is short, which lasts only a few days before the flower withers and dies.