The Big Red Flower <es>

This is one big flower! It's red with white blotches, and stands out from all the others. It's a Rafflesia flower! This one's name is Rafa. She is glad to grow where she is.

Rafa is not like other flowers in these woods. The orchids have long, thin leaves. Rafa has big petals that stand out from the bushes she grows in. That's just how she is!

Rafa likes to make friends, but the others do not seem to like her much. But she likes to sit in the woods alone, too. There are only a few spots where Rafflesia flowers grow. This makes them rare!

None of the other flowers are kind to Rafa. She does not mind. They don't like the way she smells. She still does not mind.

The other flowers get lots of bees and butterflies. Those kinds of bugs like their smell. But they do not like Rafa's smell. Some other bugs do.

Her smell is not like other flowers. It smells just like rotten meat! What kind of bug would love that?

Flies, of course! They love rotten meat, and things that smell like it. They first come one by one. Soon Rafa has a lot of flies on her!

The other flowers do not like flies. But more flies see Rafa than there are bugs for the others. They help take her pollen to other Rafflesia flowers. This is how more can grow!

Rafa is a big flower, and that makes her famous! Folks come from far and wide just to see her. They love to get pictures with her. But maybe the smell is too strong for them at times!

Rafa the Rafflesia flower may be alone, but she does not care. She doesn't need butterflies or bees, she has her flies. She doesn't need to smell sweet, she loves her meat smell! It's great to be a Rafflesia flower!