The natural world is amazing and diverse. What forms you will not meet on our wonderful planet. All this fully applies to the magnificent world of plants. Today, biologists have studied and described more than 320 thousand plants, among which about 280 thousand are flowering.
Many plants migrated from the wild to the windowsills of our homes, to greenhouses and flower beds, and delight the eye with their beauty. But today our review of the large representatives of the flowering order, including learn about the largest flower in the world.
Wildlife World ...
Rafflesia Arnold
In Latin, the name of this world's largest flower sounds no less beautiful, as in Russian - Rafflesia arnoldii. It’s just that he shows the world his splendor and originality for a short time, since the flowering of rafflesia lasts only a few days.
A unique plant was discovered by the conductor from the expedition of Dr. Joseph Arnold, who worked in Sumatra. He was named in honor of the doctor. The plant grows on Kalimantan and Sumatra, and the flowers reach a diameter of up to 1 meter.
Note that the shape of the flower of rafflesia is unusually beautiful. But, despite its majestic and beautiful forms, this is a parasite plant that receives all the necessary substances from other plants.
Amorphophallus titanic
This unique plant was discovered with an incredibly large inflorescence at the end of the 19th century in the western part of Sumatra island. But in the wild, it has almost disappeared, and you can admire it only in greenhouses.
The smell of this unusual plant during flowering has the "aroma" of rotting meat. But even this unpleasant circumstance does not repel thousands of tourists and nature lovers who come to see the miracle of nature, which has a flower that reaches up to 2 meters in height.
Note that this is not only the largest, but also the tallest flower on the planet, and because of its characteristics, the plant is also called the “cadaveric flower” or “snake palm”.
Giant stapelia
Around the world, this unique plant has spread from the expanses of the African continent. Like many “giants” of the flower world, the slipway has an unpleasant smell, which attracts the flies involved in its pollination.
The flower itself, growing up to 40 centimeters, is covered with small and soft hairs. Attractive color is bright scarlet. Because of its size, the plant has many names, including such unusual ones as “Zulu giant” and “giant toad flower”.
Stapelia came from the deserts of South Africa to greenhouses, and its unusual shape made it an honorable place in rock gardens.
Hydnor African
The appearance of this flower raises the idea that he arrived on our Earth from distant planets, so unusual in its shape. According to this indicator, he rightfully deserves the title of the strangest flower in the world.
In addition, among the predator flowers, hydorn is the largest plant. With its unpleasant aroma, it attracts beetles, which participate in pollination. But the plant feeds on insects, acting as a trap. Petals growing up to 15 centimeters are slammed and digested prey inside the bowl.
It grows in arid regions, spends most of its life underground, and decides to appear on the surface of the earth only after heavy rains, so you rarely see it.
Puya Raymond
Growing amid the mountain splendor of the Andes, the flower is unusual in its shape and size. The peduncle of a Latin American plant grows up to 10 meters, on which more than 8 thousand white flowers evenly bloom.
Easily adapted to life at an altitude of more than 3 thousand meters above sea level, and to dry, rocky soils. But such is his choice. The species is considered endangered, as local residents actively use the plant in economic life. In this regard, the authorities of Peru took him under guard.
It is noteworthy that an amazing view blooms only in the 80th year of life, and after flowering and fruiting dies.
Cultivated by man ...
Roses
Among the large flowers, it is worth mentioning the plant, which is rightly called the “Queen of Flowers”. Roses have been known since ancient Greece, but in Russia it appears in the XVI century.
But the largest rose in the world is considered a shrub rose, planted back in 1885. This species is called “Lady Banks”, and the Guinness Book of Records annually measures the amazing plant.
In the photo: Lady banks roses
During flowering, about 200 thousand flowers bloom on the trunk, which has reached 3.7 meters in diameter today. This is a fast-growing species of shrub roses capable of growing up to 6 meters in a few years.
Bouquets of flowers
It was from roses that the largest bouquet of flowers in the entire history of Mankind was composed. In 2005, the Sheikh of Qatar married his cousin, and a bouquet in the form of an Egyptian pyramid was assembled for the bride. The height of this work of art was 15 meters, and the bouquet weighed 43 tons.
But in Russia, a huge and beautiful bouquet consisted of 13 thousand 777 roses, and cost about 15 million rubles. But it is worth noting that one rose, as a sign of attention and love, pleases no less than the largest bouquet of flowers in the world.
And such a bouquet, as we see, was located on the largest square in China, Tiananmen, about which TheBiggest.ru already wrote in an article about the largest squares in the world.
Well, and what girl did not dream of getting at least once in her life such a bouquet of red roses?
Tulips
In the photo: Temple of Beauty tulips
Among the decorative flowers grown by man, tulips, like roses, are very popular. In all their diversity, we will name the largest representatives of this magnificent plant.
In the photo: tulips varieties Libretto Parrot
Of all the types of tulips, the largest is the Temple of Beauty variety, whose petals grow up to 14 centimeters. The parrot tulip variety, Libretto Parrot, is not far behind. A glass of its inflorescence grows to 8 centimeters, but the diameter is 20 centimeters.
In the photo: Casa Grande tulips
Greig's tulip Casa Grande is not far behind them. Its magnificent glass of orange-scarlet color reaches 14 centimeters, and the stem is almost half a meter.
Calla lilies
Callas are considered to be true giants among decorative flowers. For example, Ethiopian calla can grow up to 150 centimeters, and leaves are striking in sizes of 30 centimeters.
In Russia, for the beauty and unusual shape of the petals, they were called whiteflies. Elegant and delicate flowers were first discovered in South Africa, and today in any part of the world you can find various varieties of calla lilies.
Despite the fact that the plant is a symbol of happiness and prosperity, among many peoples they are called the “flowers of death”, and often not only brought to the graves, but also grown in cemeteries.
It is difficult to determine what are the most beautiful flowers on Earth, because everyone has their own preferences. But the fact that large flowers really amaze with their size is indisputable. You can not remain indifferent to such oddities of the wild, and especially to the "giant" flowers, carefully grown by human hands. After all, flowers are not only an adornment of nature, but also of our daily lives.