Rafflesia arnoldii and Classification

Rafflesia arnoldii is a obligate parasites of plants known for having very large flowers, even the largest flower in the world.  it grew up in the network vines (lianas) Tetrastigma and has no leaves and is unable to photosynthesize. This plant endemic to Indonesia: Sumatra island, especially the southern part (Bengkulu, Jambi and South Sumatra).  Kerinci Seblat National Park is the main conservation area of this species.  This species, together with the other members of the genus Rafflesia, threatened status due to massive deforestation. In Java patma grow only one type of parasite, Rafflesia patma.

Rafflesia arnoldii is rare and fairly hard to locate. It is especially difficult to locate the flower in forests as the buds take many months to develop and the flower lasts for just a few days. The flowers are unisexual and thus proximity of male and female flowers is vital for successful pollination. These factors make successful pollination a rare event.
 
When Rafflesia is ready to reproduce, a tiny bud forms on the outside of the root or stem and develops over a period of a year. The cabbage like head that develops, eventually opens to reveal the flower. The stigma or stamen are attached to a spiked disk inside the flower. A foul smell of rotting meat attracts flies and beetles to pollinate. To pollinate successfully, the flies and/or beetles must visit both the male and female plants. The fruit produced are round lots filled with smooth flesh including many thousands of hard coated seeds that are eaten and spread by tree shrews .

Classification of  Rafflesia arnoldii

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Angiosperms
Class:	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Rafflesiaceae
Genus:	Rafflesia
Species:	R. arnoldii