The Rafflesia defies botany textbooks. The parasitic plant has no stems, leaves, or roots. It survives by leaching nutrients from certain vines and only its flowers are visible. For years ...

Rafflesia (Rafflesia keithii), Borneo. This plant has no stem or leaves, instead it is a parasite on a vine. By feeding on its host, rafflesia is able to produce the world's biggest flower ...

Parasitic plants use a structure called a haustorium to penetrate their host plant. This specialised organ forms a connection between the two plants, which they use to drain nutrition. Some parasites, ...

Rafflesia bengkuluensis with its custodians in Sumatra. Image credit: Chris Thorogood. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert ...