THE LARGEST FLOWER IN THE WORLD.
Can you imagine a blossom as large as a carriage wheel? On the island of Mindanao, one of the Philippine group, was found by some explorers such a flower. Far up on the mountain Parag, 2,500 feet above the sea level, some explorers were wandering, when they came across some buds larger than gigantic cabbage heads. Greatly astonished, they searched further, and presently discovered a full-blown blossom, five-petaled, and three feet in diameter. It was carried on low-lying, luxuriant vines. The natives call it bolo. It was found impossible to preserve it fresh, so they photographed it, and kept some dried petals to press, and by improvised scales found that a single flower weighed twenty-two pounds. It was afterward found to be a species of Rafflesia, first found in Sumatra, and named after Sir Stamford Raffles. The new flower was called Rafflesia Schadenbergia, in honor of its discoverer, Dr. Schadenburg.—Los Angeles Times.