Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-05-02
HORTICULTURE.
Giant Flowers 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 a gigantic flower, describ-
ing In such weird terms that at first
they did not believe the account, but
one day, DIR. 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
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
flower, so much does it exceed every
flower ! had ever seen or heard of"
Passing from the bush tn some trees,
the discoverer was confronted by a gi
gantic flower apparently growing alone
without leaves or verdure, from the
ground. The petals. five in number,
were thick and ffeshy over an inch in
thickness, while the center presented
the appearance of a bowl, from which
projected curious spikes. The entire
petal weighed almost three pounds and
the entire flower. If it could have been
held up, would have entirely concealed
the person holding it, 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 .ower without
leaves or anything but the attachment
to the earth-a complete puzzle-and
at first it looked like a gigantic toad
stool that had taken the form of
flower. Tipping one of the flowers over
1t was found that it grew from a deli
cate leafiess stem not larger than two
myers, and was, in short a 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
flower was received with incfedulity.
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 raffiesia DIR. Arnold. Beccari also
had heard rumors from the natives of
flower higher than a man, and which
at certaii times gave out an odor that
was fatal to man and beast. The ItaI-
ian naturalist did not believe the latter.
and determined to make a vigorous
search for the man-kiliing plant Fin
ally, deep in the forest. he came upon
L. II resembled a lily but giant;
and from the center of the flower rose
spadix that was six feet in height
or as tall as large man. The staAed
leaves were ten feet long, the whole pes
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 a delicate green tint,
while upon the outside it was a rich
pdrple hue. The odor was not poison
Gus, but was well calculated to keep
both man and beast at a distance
A few years ago a friend OF Beccarf,
the Marchese Corsi-Salviati of Florence
presented potted tuber of this plant
weighing fifty-seven pounds to the royal
gardens at Kew. England, and one night
II bloomed to the establishment and de-
light of those who saw it, The plant is
called the giant-arum.