Rafflesia
Where does it grow?
On the slopes of a mountain
Where does the comet orchid grow?
In Madagascar
What part of this plant is the most interesting?
It is its leaf (but it looks like a flower).
What does this plant not have?
Stems and leaves
What is the sweet juice that flowers have inside to attract insects?
It is called nectar.
Why can't the pitcher plant get the food it needs from the soil?
Because it grows in poor soils that don't have a lot of nutrients (nitrogen).
What do we call a plant that uses other plants to live?
A parasite
In what way is the Comet Orchid different from the other orchids?
Its sweet juice for pollinators is at the end of a long tube which is part of the flower.
How does this plant attract insects?
It attracts flies because it smells like rotting flesh (spoiled meat).
How long does the flower grow before it opens and how long does it bloom?
It grows for five years and then opens.
It stays open (blooms) for only one day.
What did Charles Darwin decide could drink the sweet juice from this orchid?
He thought it was a special moth.
What does the plant want?
It wants to eat the insect and get nutrients from it.
Why is it called the Corpse Flower?
Because it smells like a dead animal and attracts flies.
Was Charles Darwin right and why?
Yes, he was right, even though he never saw this moth. It was discovered after his death. The moth has a very long tongue that can reach deep into the orchid and pollinate it.
Why can't the insect escape?
Because the inside of the pitcher plant is very slippery.