Rafflesia

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/rafflesia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Rafflesia
2. What is the lifespan?Flower lifespan is typically 3-7 days; parasitic phase can last for years
3. What is a Rafflesia and why does it smell like rotten meat?Rafflesia is a parasitic plant from Southeast Asia that has no leaves, stems, or roots. It lives inside a host vine and releases a strong, rotten‑meat smell to attract flies and beetles that help pollinate it.
4. How big can a Rafflesia flower get?A single Rafflesia flower can grow up to a meter across and weigh more than 10 kilograms, making it one of the largest flowers in the world.

Endoparasite: A parasite, such as Rafflesia, that lives inside its host's body.
Dioecious: Having male and female reproductive organs on separate plants.
Entomophily: Pollination of a plant or tree by insects.
Bio-indicator: A species that provides information about the health of an ecosystem.