rafflesia

Any of various parasitic plants of the genus Rafflesia of Southeast Asia, having no leaves and a solitary fleshy flower with the odor of carrion. The species R. arnoldii has the largest flowers among all flowering plants, measuring up to 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter.

A genus of apetalous parasitic plants of the order Cytinaceæ and type of the tribe Rafflesieæ, characterized by a perianth of five large entire and fleshy imbricated lobes, numerous stigmas, and globose many-chambered anthers, each opening by a single pore, which form a ring at the revolute top of a column rising in the center of the flower.

A genus of stemless, leafless plants, living parasitically upon the roots and stems of grapevines in Malaysia. The flowers have a carrionlike odor, and are very large, in one species (Rafflesia Arnoldi) having a diameter of two or three feet.

Any of several large parasitic plants, of the genus Rafflesia, from South East Asia, that have no roots, stems or leaves; Rafflesia arnoldii has the largest known flower with a diameter of over a yard.