Nature has given us all kinds of alien-looking species we don't encounter very often. Much of this plant and animal life live in the far reaches and depths of the world not many humans go to, such as the bottommost parts of the ocean and the thickest jungles. There are still many areas to explore and many more species to discover. But part of the beauty of these beings is how they thrive in absolute silence and solitude.
One of the most perplexing species out there is the Rafflesia kerrii. You may have seen this flower in books and magazines before, and it is commonly known as the "corpse flower" because of the pungent smell it gives off when it blooms.
The endangered flower is also the second largest in the world. It can be found in the rain forests of southern Thailand and Malaysia. Measuring over a meter in diameter, it can weigh about 10 kg and hold several gallons of nectar inside of it — this is the nectar that attracts flies. The flies die, and the plant starts of give off an odor similar to that of rotting meat, hence its moniker.
The red flower's beauty lies in the ephemeral nature of its life: nine months pass before the flower is in full bloom. One week later, the flower dies.
Now watch when this brave botanist sees the different stages of the life of a Rafflersia kerrii.
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