A rare Rafflesia flower has been discovered in peak bloom in a rainforest in Indonesia. <br /><br />Rafflesia flowers are reportedly among the largest in the world and only bloom for a few days before withering and dying. The flowers are not easily found and mainly grow in rainforests in Southeast Asia.<br /><br />This one was discovered in West Sumatra's Bengkulu province.<br /><br />According to Ade Putra, a local forestry officer, the flower was found by a local person on March 10 and was estimated to about three days old at that time and in perfect full bloom.<br /><br />Putra said: "This flower is part of the Rafflesia flower family but it's not [the more common] Rafflesia Arnoldy. Its name is tuan-mudae and they usually live in Malaysia forests. What distinguishes them is the shape of the hair inside the flower."<br /><br />Experts describe the plant as a parasitic plant. It has no visible stem, roots or leaves but threads that absorb nutrients from its host plant.<br /><br />Many people have given it the nickname corpse lily, because it emits an odour similar to rotting flesh that attracts insects to pollinate it.
