1. The smallest flower in the world    

The record for the smallest flower in the world belongs to a species of plant in the Arachnaceae family named Wolffia arrhiza. Wolffia arrhiza is also one of the smallest plants. They often grow in still waters such as ponds and lakes. This plant has no roots, its flowers consist of 1 female flower and two male flowers. Even the largest flower cluster is only 1mm.

The usual reproductive method of Wolffia arrhiza is that the new individual separates from the mother individual. When winter comes, they “sleep” and sink to the bottom of the water in the form of shoots (turion). In particular, it can generate its own energy through photosynthesis or receive dissolved carbon from the environment.

2. The world’s largest flower

That is the Diamant flower, its scientific name is Rafflesia arnoldii. This is a parasitic plant that often lives in the tropical rain forests of Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia. It has no stem, roots and leaves. It lives parasitically on a plant belonging to the Grape family (Vitaceae).

Its flowers grow close to the ground and when opened look like eyes. Because the flowers inside the inflorescence cluster together while the outside part climbs out, like pupils and eyeballs growing on the ground, it is named Earth Eye.

The Dia Long flower has a diameter of up to 1.5m, a circumference of about 3-4m and weighs up to 10-12 kg. On the calyx is its reproductive part. Below the sepals are countless pollen, there is quite a lot of it, it can fill a small vase.

Even though the Dia Long flowers are quite beautiful, their fragrance is extremely scary. Specifically, the scent of Dia Long flowers stinks like the smell of a corpse. But this stench and its color are the factors that attract insects to help with their pollination process.

3. The tallest flowering plant

Scientists have confirmed that the record for the tallest flowering plant is that of the giant Amorphophallus, scientific name Amorphophallus titaum – belonging to the Araceae family. This tree species lives in the forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. Its flower is essentially a cluster of flowers with a giant bract covering the outside like a mantle. During its 40 years of existence, the Amorphophallus titaum inflorescence only bloomed 3-4 times and each time it bloomed for 2-3 days.

Additionally, what looks like giant interconnected petals of this plant is a purple shield. This flower is giant in size, with flowers up to 3.7m tall and weighing up to 11kg. Located in the middle of it is a large flower stalk carrying a cluster of small unbranched flowers, including male and female flowers.

A special feature of Amorphophallus titaum flowers is that they also smell of rotten meat. And similar to the Diamantula flower, this stench is mainly to attract flies and beetles to help them pollinate.

4. The last flowering plant

The tree that holds this record is Puya Raimondii, a species known as the “queen of the Andes”. Puya Raimondii is a tree belonging to the pineapple family, about 3-4 meters tall. Its flowers only bloom when the tree is 100 to 150 years old.

When Puya Raimondii flowers bloom, they will form clusters, like large feathers. Its thousands of flowers contain up to 10 million seeds. Unfortunately, after dispersing all the seeds, “queen” Puya Raimondii will say goodbye to life.

5. The inflorescence has the largest branching in the world

The world’s largest branched inflorescence belongs to the Talipot palm, scientific name Corypha umbraculifera. Talipot palm is native to southern India and Sri Lanka.

This giant palm tree is up to 25m tall and its trunk is 1.3m in diameter. The leaves are shaped like outstretched hands with a diameter of up to 5m and petioles 4m long. Talipot palm has the largest inflorescence of all plants. Their inflorescences are up to 6-8m long and consist of several million small flowers growing on flower branches at the top of the trunk. The Talipot palm only blooms once when it is about 30 to 80 years old.