Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-04-11
GIant Flowera Of sumatra.

One Of the most remarkable discov-
cries, sensational in every particular,
comes from Sumatra. Some years ago
several bOtanists were travelling
through the country In search of new
things in plant life, when the natives
told them Of gigantic flower, describ-
ing In such weird terms that at first
they did not believe the account, but
one day, DR.. Arnold, one of the party,
came upon the wonder, says the North
western Christian Advocate. He was not
only amazed, but dumfOunded, the
strange object that met his eye making
a profound impression upon him. Later
he said: ITO tell the truth, had BEEN
alone and there had been no witnesses,
should, / think, have been fearful Of
mentioning the dimensions Of this
Hover, so much does 1t exceed every
flower had ever seen or heard Of"
Passing from the bush to some trees,
the discoverer was confronted by gi-
gantic flower, apparently growing alone
without leaves or verdure, from the
ground. The petals, five in number,
were thick and fleshy, over an inch in
thickness, while the center presented
the appearance Of bowl, from which
projected curious spikes. The entire
Hover was near four feet across; each
petal weighed almost three pounds and
the entire flower. If 1t could have been
held up, would have entirely concealed
the person holding 1t. The flower
weighed, in some specimens, twenty
five or thirty pounds. The nectary
alone could catch and hold twelve pints
Of water.
The new discovery was startling in
many ways. 1t was Eower without
leaves or anything but the attachment
to the earth-a complete puzzle-and
at first it looked like gigantic toad
stool that had taken the form Of
lower. Tipping one Of the flowers over
1t was found that it grew from a deli
cate leafess stem not larger than two
fingers, and was, in short, wonderful
flower parasite growing and deriving
Its sustenance from the body Of huge
vine that in turn wound around the
trees Of the forest. The story Of this
lower was received with incredulity,
but 1t has since been seen by many,
and been named, after Sir Stamford
Rallies, rafflesia. No one would have
thought Of finding In Sumatra a giant
ally Of the little wake robin" but such
discovery came to Beccari, and
amazed him equally as much as did
the ratflesia DR.. Arnold. Beccari also
1ad heard rumors from the natives of a
flower higher than a man, and which
at certain times gave out an odor that
was fatal to man and beast. The Ital-
ian naturalist did not believe the latter.
and determined to make a vigorous
search for the man-killing plant. Fin
ally, deep in the forest, he came upon
it. 1t resembled a lily, but a giant;
and from the center of the flower rose
spadix that was six feet in height
or as tall as large man. The stalked
leaves were ten feet long, the whole pc
culiar plant taking up an area of As
square feet. The diameter of the spathe
was about three feet, bell shaped, with
serrated edges of delicate green tint,
while upon the outside it was a rich
purple hue. The odor was not poison
Gus. but was we'll calculated to keep
both man and beast at a distance
A few years ago friend of Beccari
he Marchese Corsi-Salviati of Florence,
presented a potted tuber Of this plant
feisning tifty-seven pounds to the royal
gardens at Kew, England, and one night
t bloomed to the establishment and de-
light of those who saw it. The plant is
called the giant-arum.