The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-09-12
GIGANTIC FLOWERS.
\ Lily Sin Feet lliSh-.An Enormous
Parasite.


Ia an article about gigantic flower
tho Scientific -laerictsa says:
! Certain localities seem particular,
adapted for the development OF botl
animals and plants, and in the regio,
including India, the islands of the In
dian Archipelago, and outlying Austria
liza, certain forms Of the latter are founC
that in the size of their fruit and flow
ers excite the greatest wonder in thos.
! who have heheld them, and not n little
credulity in those who have not been
so fortunate.
In the Southern continent of our own
hemisphere is found the great lily Vic.
toria regia, that created the sensation
of the time when discovered, and a
picture recently shown in these columns,
| representing 4 boy and girl standing
upon one Of the leaves, gives foycible
idea of the strength of structure of this
giant.
The Sumatra aruin is 4 wake robin
of mammoth proportions, and it is said
that the first European that observed
it at first refused to believe that it was
a flower. This was before the time of
the scientific world. a party was trav-
cling through Sumatra with native
guides, when one of the latter brought
into camp n huge object Of evidently
vegetable structure, ut least six feet in
length, and endeavored to make the
white men believe that it was a flower,
or part of one. The story, however.
was not credited, and was forgotten
until the real discovery was made by
No t,1i sst t.
found the plant growing in secluded
parts OF the country, and considered it
to be most remarkable example of
vegetable growth.
Imagine, if you can, a tuber five feet,
and sometimes more, in circumference;
from this growing leaves on loot stalks
ten feet in length, divided and torn by
the wind, yet covering an area of forty
five or fifty feet in circumference.
Above this lowered the gigantic flower,
impressing the behotder not only with
its size, but by fits peculiar coioring.
The central column or Spadix, that in
the wake robin is Used as n button hole
bouquet, is in this tropical cousin six
feet in height and propOrtionatcly
stout.
The spadix from which this rose was
about three feet in diameter, of Il bell
shape, the edges richly crumpled and
toothcd in fantastic manner, and COL
orcd pale grecnish tint upon tho in
side and rich, blaal< metallic purple
without.
a group Of these plants would pres
sent a remarkable sight, their enormous
leaves, the large masses of color, and
u n al
Semblins more the creatures OF some
vivid imagination than the reality.
If we consider the diameter, the dis
covcry of Sir Stamford BATTLES in the
same country is indeed greater mar
vel. The plant now known as the
Ratllesia arnold is an enormous para
site, uncouth and tieshy, seemingly at
taing its huge dimension by literally
absorbing the juices of its neighbors.
1t is invariably found growing upon
the roots of other plants, ieatless, root
loss itself, represented only by the
gigantic flower, from which rises an
odor sickcring and ietid in tho OK
tremc.
The plant first observed was consi-
dered an enormous fungus or agaric,
but it was soon shown TO be flower
Imagine Il rose blasted and swollen,
weighing fifteen or twenty pounds, its
petals reduce! 10 five in number, the
thickness of each being over an inch +,
each one measuring foot from the
base to the apex, and some idea can be
gained OF this monstrosity of plants.
1t measured over three feet across the
surface, and The nectary, a vessel cap
able of holding six quarts, was filed
with a rceking fluid that gave out an
odor like tainted beef, and was trap,
containing the bodies of myriadS Of in
sect victims.
The flower was first discovered on the
Mamma river, SHsnHtra, where it is
known as tho ''D2vil'3 Sri Box" and
is calculated to create a decided i'm
preston on the mind of the observer.
DR.. Arnold, after whom it is also
named, says Of the effect ii had upon
him when coming suddenly up it.
"To tell thc truth, had / been alone,
and had there been no witnesses, ]
should, ! think, have been fearful of
mentioning these dimensions OF this
flower, so much does it exceed every
flower Iha; ! hay" ever seen or heard
Of"
In the island Of Java another Of these
giants has been found, differing but lit
tie specifically, ana being nearly as
large as its Sumatra ally.
In the South American iuuplps are