The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-26
GIANT FLOWERS OF sUMATRA-

One of the most remarkable dlScov-
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, de-
scribing it in such weird terms that
they at first did not believe the ac-
count, but one day DIR. Arnold, one of
the party, came upon the wonder. He
was not only amazed, but dumfounded,
the strange object that met his view
making a profound impression upon
him. Later he said: ITO tell the truth,
had been alone and there had been
no witnesses 1 should, think, have
been fearful of mentioning the dimen-
Sions of this flower, SO much does it
exceed every flower have ever seen
or heard Of Passing from the bush
TO some trees the discoverer was con-
fronted by q gigantic flower, appar-
emily growing alone, without leaves
or verdure. from the ground. The
petals, five in number, were thick and
fieshy, over an inch in thickness, while
the center presented the appearance
of bowl, from which projected curl
GUS spikes. The entire flower was
nearly four feet across; each 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 a flower 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
flower. Tipping one of the flowers
over it was found that it grew from a
delicate leafiess stem not larger than
two fingers, and was, in short, a won
derful flower parasite growing and de-
irving its sustenance from the body Of
a huge vine that in turn wound about
the trees of the forest. The story OF
this flower was received with incred-
ulity, but it has since been seen by
many, and been named, after Sir STAN.
ford Rallies, rafhesia. No one would
have thought of finding in Sumatra q
giant ally of the little awake robin"
but such discovery came to Beccari,
and amazed him equally as much
as did the rafflesia DIR. Arnold.
Beccari also had heard rumors from
the natives of a flower higher than
man, and which at certain times gave
out an odor that was fatal to man and
beast. The Italian naturalist did not
believe the latter, and determined to
make vigorous search for the man
killing plant. Finally, deep in the for
est, he came upon it. 1t resembled a
lily, but giant; and from the center
of the flower rose spadix that was six
feet in height-or as tall as a large
man. The stalked leaves were ten feet
long. the whole peculiar plant taking
up an area of forty-five 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 purple
hue. The odor was not poisonous, but
was we'll calculated to keep both man
and beast at distance.
A few years ago a friend of Beccari,
the Marchese Corsi-Saiviati of Flor
ence, presented a potted tuber of this
plant weighing fifty-seven pounds to
the royal gardens of Kew, Eng, and
one night it bloomed, to the aston
ishment and delight Of those who saw