The Rafflesia defies botany textbooks. The parasitic plant has no stems, leaves, or roots. It survives by leaching nutrients from certain vines and only its flowers are visible. For years ...

This specialised organ forms a connection between the two plants, which they use to drain nutrition. Some parasites, such as Rafflesia and Thurber’s stemsucker, grow within the plant and only emerge ...

Rafflesia (Rafflesia keithii), Borneo. This plant has no stem or leaves, instead it is a parasite on a vine. By feeding on its host, rafflesia is able to produce the world's biggest flower ...

Rafflesia bengkuluensis with its custodians in Sumatra. Image credit: Chris Thorogood. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert ...

Chris Thorogood with Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest flower in the world, in Sumatra. Image credit: Chris Thorogood. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news ...

Kelantan, known for its rich diversity of Rafflesia species, is facing serious challenges in conserving the world’s largest flower due to unchecked agricultural development and a general lack of ...