Question

Largest flower Rafflesia is
A) Total stem parasite
B) Total root parasite
C) Partial stem parasite
D) Partial root parasite

Answer 1

Parasitic plants are the plants which live inside the host and obtain all its nutrition from the host plant. They have special root-like structures called haustoria through which it derives nutrition from the host.

Complete answer:
Rafflesia is the biggest flower. The plant does not have stem leaves or root. They do not have chlorophyll so they cannot prepare their own food. It is a holoparasitic plant which derives its nutrition from the host. They absorb food, water and all the nutrients from the host. So the plant is considered as a total root parasitic plant.
-Total stem parasite- example Cuscuta
-Partial Stem parasite- example Viscum
-Partial Stem parasite-example Loranthus

Additional Information: Rafflesia likes to grow in shade. All the plant parts are poisonous. Touching the plant can result in skin irritation and allergic reaction. The plant is an endoparasite and is only seen outside the host plant when it is ready to reproduce.

Thus the correct answer is (B). Rafflesia is a total root parasite.

Note: Rafflesia is one of the distasteful plants as it smells like rotten dung or meat smell. The diameter of the flower is about 1 meter and can weigh upto 10 kgs. It is a rare species and can be located in the islands of Java and Sumatra. It grows once a year.