Relatives Found for the World's Stinkiest Flower

Red rafflesia: The smelly flower

Rafflesia from Bengkulu Indonesia

Rafflesia did not begin its life as a parasite, but likely evolved this lifestyle in Southeast Asia as it began to depend upon a variety of grape, Tetrastigma. Now Rafflesia lives inside of the grape plant and only reveals itself once a year when it produces the smelly blooms.