The world's largest flower, Rafflesia arnoldii, grows up to 3.5 feet wide and smells like rotting meat to attract flies for pollination.

Rafflesia arnoldii was first documented by Western science in 1818 during an expedition led by Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr. Joseph Arnold in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. This rare plant belongs to the family Rafflesiaceae and is unique because it lacks chlorophyll, meaning it cannot produce its own food through photosynthesis. Instead, it lives as an endoparasite within the tissues of Tetrastigma vines, remaining invisible until it is ready to bloom.The flower can reach a diameter of 106 centimeters and weigh up to 11 kilograms. Its massive size is a result of evolutionary gigantism, a process where a species evolves to be much larger than its ancestors. The bloom lasts only five to seven days, creating a narrow window for successful reproduction in the dense jungle environment.The plant's infamous odor is caused by a complex blend of volatile organic compounds, including dimethyl trisulfide, which is also found in rotting onions and decaying corpses. This scent, combined with the flower's reddish-brown color and leathery texture, tricks carrion flies into entering the flower. As the flies crawl inside looking for a place to lay eggs, they inadvertently transfer pollen between male and female blooms.