What are the largest and smallest individual flowers in the world?

The titan arum lily (or Amorphophallus titanium Becc.) growing in the tropical rainforest of Sumatra in Indonesia is the largest individual flower known in the world. It blossoms twice or thrice a year, and its flower attains a diameter about 150cm and a height of nearly 300cm. Titan arum lily not only has the biggest individual flower in the world, its inflorescence is also the tallest in the world, about 360cm.

The period from May to October is the blossoming season of the Rafflesia arnoldii found in the rainforest in Indonesia. Its flower attains a diameter over 100cm, and the biggest one recorded is 126cm. The Rafflesia is definitely not a flower to be belittled.

The Wolffia globosa den Hartog & van der Plas is the smallest individual flower in the world. Its length and width is only but a millimeter, even smaller than the tip of a needle. It is a member of the duckweed family and blossoms between May and August. It is often found in wet paddy fields and ponds. Though it is small, it is three times world champion. Besides having the smallest individual flower, it is the smallest plant that blossoms and has the smallest fruit.

Which flower gives the most odorous smell in the world?

When it blossoms, the titan arum lily gives out the most odorous smell in the world, like some kind of rotten meat. Therefore, people also call it the corpse flower. Yet, it is with this fragrance that insects are attracted to help the flower pollinate. Furthermore, this odor is also the famous attraction of the flower.

Which city is known as the most fragrant city in the world?

Small southern city Grasse of France is the most fragrant city in the world. Because of the suitable terrain and landform and the adequate humidity and sunshine, Grasse is suitable for all kinds of flowers to grow. Therefore, it has been the cradle of perfume in France since the 17th century. Today, it is still the supply center of perfume raw materials and an important production base of perfumes. The famous Channel No. 5 is made in this place.

Which is the most colorful flower?

In general, the shade difference is the identifiable color change of a flower from budding through blossoming to withering. However, changeable rose-mallow or cotton rose changes its color constantly. It is white on the first day of blossoming and changes to light red on the second and gradually to burgundy. When it withered, it is purple. Therefore, it is the most colorful flower in the world.

Which is the flower with the shortest florescence?

The Chinese saying “flower briefly as the broad-leaved epiphyllum” draws from the fact that the flower blooms for a very short period of time. Yet, comparing with the victoria of the Amazon River in South America which blossoms only for half an hour in the morning, the florescence of the broad-leaved epiphyllum is rather long. The flower of wheat is another example of flowers with short florescence. From blossoming to withering, it takes about 5-30 minutes.

If we are talking about the most short-lived flower, the ephemeral chrysanthemum of the Sahara Dessert is probably the one. Growing in the arid dessert area, the ephemeral chrysanthemum buds, burgeons, blossoms, fruits, and withers immediately when there is tiny water. In fact, it must complete the entire lifecycle within a few weeks in order to continue the next generation.

Who is the mosquito buster?

We often hear that mosquito-repellent incenses or mosquito sprays contain pyrethrum. What is pyrethrum then?

The pyrethrum is a perennial plant species of the Chrysanthemum genus. Its flowers contain both the pyrethrin and cinerin. The vicious liquid of pyrethrum can paralyze the nerves of mosquito and poison it to death. Yet, this naturally occurring insecticide is harmless to animals and humans. Therefore, it is the best insecticide for killing mosquitoes. Besides mosquitoes, this insecticide is an effective pesticide for fields. It can also cure scabies after extraction.

Do all plants live solely on nutrition from the soil?

There are over 500 types of carnivorous plants in the world, such as the common nepenthes, sundew or drosera, drosera peltata, Venus’s flytrap or dionaea muscipula; and the common nepenthes is the best designed one. It attracts insects by secreting honey juice from the sack. After falling into this sweet trap, the sack will close immediately and nothing can escape. These poor insects will then become the gourmet diet of the common nepenthes.