Crimson Bowlflower

This colossal flower grows up to 15.0 feet (4.6 meters) tall. Its crimson stem is very thin and splits into 7 branching stems three quarters of the way up, and the tiny, green leaves are pleated with rounded edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves grow in pairs along the length of the stem.

Each stem splits 5 to 11 times; a single large flower grows at the end of each split. The flowers are 70 cm (27.6 inches) wide, with solid copper petals and a pink central disk. The flower head is shaped like a bowl made up of dozens of raised, round-tipped petals. They detach easily.

It has a strong scent that smells like pine needles, and it has very little pollen; it can cause severe allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind, but is also particularly attractive to butterflies.