Can anyone identify this flower?

[caribou]

Hi
I'm a novice gardener - in Auckland, New Zealand - and am really stumped by this plant that grew overnight in our lawn. It stunk, like rotting meat, and had flies on it - really revolting. It definitely wasn't there on the previous day so it's very fast growing. I've never seen anything like it, and we took a photo to our local garden centre, who couldn't identify it either. Any thoughts?
Thanks.

[Neil Bromhall]

I wonder if it can be a Rafflesia. They attact flies with a rotting flesh smell
I know it's not the right Rafflesia but the following link will tell you a bit about them.
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~tbarkman/rafflesia/Rafflesia.html

Rafflesia is a parasite that depends completely upon its host; the majority of the plant's tissues exist as thread-like strands entirely within the host's cells. These host plants are vines of Tetrastigma spp., and the Rafflesia plant is itself not visible until the reproduction stage when flowers first bud through the woody vine and then open into the magnificent spectacle that is world-renowned today. The flowers can take up to 10 months to develop from the first visible bud to the open bloom, which may last no more than a few days. Currently 17 species of Rafflesia are recognised and these mainly differ in the morphology of their flowers. In general however, the flowers consist of 5 leathery petals that are orange in colour and mottled with cream-coloured warts. There is a deep well in the centre of the flower containing a central raised disc raised that supports many vertical spines. The sexual organs are located beneath the rim of the disk, and male and female flowers are separate.

[caribou]

You could well be right - the description of Rafflesia certainly fits the flower - but, as you say, the photos are quite different, and they are found in Malaysia not New Zealand. However, I guess migrating birds could carry the seeds - we have a lot of birdlife so it's certainly a possibility. Interesting that Rafflesia are a source of tourism for Malaysia - perhaps we're on to something ...

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Miranda]

How fascinating to have something like that appear in your garden over night, but doesn't it look revolting! I've never seen anything that looks so much like rotting meat, and yet is a plant.

It vexes me - how do plants know how to change themselves in this way? How is it that this plant could transform itself to look like rotting meat, or an orchid can change its flower to look like a bee? It puzzles me greatly.

[Paul Narramore]

A couple of years ago I planted a Dragon Arum Dracunculus vulgaris a striking plant which also smells of rotting flesh and attracts flies. Fortunately it didn't survive and I don't think I shall be in a hurry to replace it.

[nectar]

Could it be Aseroe rubra. This is a fungus, which would explain the overnight appearance. Take a look these pictures:
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=Aseroe+rubra&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&start=0&sa=N