rafflesiabud
Therafflesiaplantdrawspollinatorswithitshorrible smell.
GiantFreeloader
Therain forestsofIndonesiaarehometoanotherbigandstinkyflower.Therafflesiaplanthasthelargest‑knownflowerintheworld.Itcangrowupto1.1meters(3.5feet)wide.Itcanweighasmuchas25 footballs.
Thisplantisaparasite.Ithasnoleaves,roots,orstems.Itfindsanotherplant—ahostplant—toattachitselfto.Thenitusesthisplantasasourcefornutrientsandwater.Eventually,a budformsandgrowsintoaflower.Likethecorpseflower,itsmellsbad.Yet,it’stheperfectscenttoattractthefliesthatpollinate it.
Youcanwatchtortoise‑shellbamboogrowbeforeyour eyes.
RisingGiant
ThesunrisesandshinesdownonanemeraldgreenbambooplantinSumatra.Theplantstandsaboutameter(3feet)high.Bysunset,thisplantwillbe1.8meters(6feet)tall!Itisthetortoise‑shellbamboo,thefastestgrowingplantonEarth.Bamboosaregiant,woodygrasses.Whentheyarebuds,theyaretiny.However,withagrowthrateof4 centimeters(1.6inches)perhour,youcanactuallywatchit grow.
Someplantslivetoextremes.Killerseeds;treesthatsting;leavesthathunt;andflowersthatsmelllikeadumpsterarejustahandfulofwaysplantshaveadaptedto survive.