Rafflesia
A trio of small "corpse flowers."
These famous flowers are not much to look at or smell, but they do have the distinction of being among the largest flowers on Earth. The typical specimen has a flower 20 inches across, and some grow to be twice as large and weigh more than 20 pounds. It is a parasitic plant that survives by feeding off surrounding vines. They are sometimes called "corpse flowers," because they stink of rotting flesh, and their substance even looks a little fleshy. They are found in the lower reaches of highland tropical rain forests, both in Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo.
Hibiscus
Red tropical hibiscus
This flower has 200 different species that are common to a variety of climates around the world. It grows everywhere in Malaysia and flowers all year around. The petals are often dried and used in both black and herbal tea blends.
Ixora
This flowery shrub can be found just about anywhere in Malaysia and is a popular choice for growing hedges. The Malay word for it, "jejarum," means "needle flower." The flowers are popular with Malay children, because it is possible for a human to suck nectar straight out of the flower buds. It blooms year around.
Orchids
As a tropical country, Malaysia is also home to orchids. Little known is the fact that the beautiful and prized orchid is a parasitic plant, feeding on living and dead trees. Arguably, the best place to explore Malaysian orchids isn't even in Malaysia, but next door in neighboring Singapore. The Singapore Botanical Gardens is widely considered to house the best collection of orchids in the world, and its collection for Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo is complete.
Saga Tree
The poisonous-but-popular red Saga seeds.
Known as the saga tree in Malaysia and Abrus precatorius to botanists, a variety of names are used for it elsewhere. It is so strongly identified by Malays with their country that Malaysia's indigenously produced car was named for it. The flowering plant's potently poisonous red seeds are often used to make jewelry or as playthings by children.
