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Rafflesia

Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Rafflesiaceae, native to Southeast Asia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Rafflesiaceae, native to Southeast Asia. The genus is best known for producing some of the largest individual flowers in the world, including *Rafflesia arnoldii*. Its flowers are often called corpse flowers because they smell like rotting meat to attract pollinators.

Description

Rafflesia is an unusual genus of flowering plants in which the visible plant is mostly reduced to its flower. The plant lacks normal leafy shoots and depends entirely on its host for water and nutrients.

Distribution and habitat

Rafflesia species are found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, including parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. They grow as parasites inside vines of the genus Tetrastigma.

Flowers and pollination

The flowers are among the largest known in the plant kingdom. Their strong odour, often compared with decaying flesh, attracts carrion flies that act as pollinators.

Species diversity

The number of recognized species varies by source, with counts in the low 40s. *Rafflesia arnoldii* is the best-known species because of its exceptional flower size.

Key facts

  • Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants native to Southeast Asia.
  • All species parasitize vines in the genus Tetrastigma.
  • The genus is famous for its very large flowers, with *Rafflesia arnoldii* producing the largest single flower of any plant.
  • Rafflesia flowers are often described as smelling like rotting flesh, which helps attract carrion flies for pollination.
  • Plants in this genus are typically hidden within host tissue, with only the flower emerging above the surface.
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Canadian context

Rafflesia has no major native Canadian presence, but it is of interest to Canadian readers through botany, biodiversity, and plant evolution. It is also a notable example in discussions of parasitic plants and tropical conservation.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rafflesia?
Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants native to Southeast Asia, known for its exceptionally large flowers.
Why is Rafflesia called a corpse flower?
Its flowers emit an odour similar to rotting meat, which helps attract fly pollinators.
What is the largest Rafflesia species?
*Rafflesia arnoldii* is the best-known species and is widely described as producing the largest single flower of any plant.
What does Rafflesia parasitize?
All known Rafflesia species parasitize vines in the genus *Tetrastigma*.
Where does Rafflesia grow?
It grows in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rafflesia
    Supports: Genus of parasitic plants native to Southeast Asia; parasitizes Tetrastigma; Rafflesia arnoldii has the largest single flower.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia
    Supports: General description, family placement, Southeast Asian distribution, and species count up to 41.
  3. Science — https://www.science.org/content/article/rafflesias-roots-revealed
    Supports: Parasitic growth inside host tissues and lack of normal roots, stems, and leaves.
  4. PubMed Central — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11474101/
    Supports: Corpse-flower odour and parasitic dependence on Tetrastigma vines.