Crimson Heartflower

This colossal flower grows up to 8.3 feet (2.5 meters) tall. Its yellow-green stem is thin and straight, and the tiny, yellow-green leaves are pleated with wavy edges. A pair of leaves grow at the base of the stem.

4 to 6 large flowers grow on alternate sides up the length of the stem. The flowers are 97 cm (38.2 inches) wide, with dark brown petals and a crimson central disk. The flower head is shaped like a heart made up of handfuls of widely spaced, narrow petals. They are hardy.

It has a delicate scent that smells like rotten meat, and it has lots of pollen; it can cause severe allergic reactions. It is pollinated by a small species of bird, but is also visited by a small species of bird.