The world’s largest – and stinkiest – flower in danger of extinction, scientists say

Parasitic, elusive and emitting an overwhelming odour of putrefying flesh, Rafflesia – often called the corpse flower – has intrigued botanists for centuries. Now, scientists are warning that it is at risk of extinction and calling for action to save it. The blooms of the Rafflesia have become famous for their odour of decaying meat, produced to attract flesh-eating flies. But the genus – which includes the largest flowers in the world, at more than a metre across – is at risk due to the destruction of forest habitats in south-east Asia. There are 42 species of Rafflesia, and researchers warn that all of them are under threat, with 25 classified as critically endangered and 15 as endangered.

tips

stink 发出臭味；名声臭

parasitic 寄生的

elusive 难以琢磨的；神出鬼没的

emit 发表；发行

odour 气味；名声，名誉

putrefy 腐烂；堕落

flesh 肉

corpse 尸体

intrigue 阴谋；密谋；激起好奇心（trig- = petty，obstacle，小障碍）

political intrigue 政治阴谋

botanist 植物学家（botany 植物学；botan- = herb，草）

decay 衰退；腐败

genus 种类

metre 【英】米（meter 米，美式拼写）