As a botanist I get to study the world's most remarkable plants. Here are some I've encountered in Southeast Asia in the last two weeks:

Septian (Deki) Andriki is the real hero of the expedition: every wondrous thing I've seen and posted on this adventure is thanks to him. We thank you brother x

The people of Sumatra have shown me such kindness, welcoming me into their homes, and sharing with me their incredible wisdom, one magical plant at a time. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all x

Trekking by night reveals an enchanted forest: waking animals; wild music; and a special plant (Amorphophallus manta) that glows pink by torchlight. It's like walking in a dreamworld.

In the Sumatran rainforest's deepest reaches, strange plants - that scarcely resemble plants at all - blossom unseen. This rarity is Balanophora papuana. We found mounds of it rising from the forest floor like little reefs of coral.

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Thank you Pak Saikul, friends and family, for making me so welcome and for sharing your special flower with us 🙏🏻

I know I'm spamming you all with the world's largest flower this week but look at THIS! A rare glimpse inside Rafflesia arnoldi!

A rare glimpse inside the largest flower on earth, seen today in the Sumatran jungle:

Earlier on the expedition we found the most beautiful flower, and here, my friends, is the biggest: Rafflesia arnoldi seen in full bloom today in the Sumatran jungle. This is the largest flower on earth and one of the greatest wonders of the natural world.

Special thanks to the foresters of West Sumatra - especially Pak Iwan and Bang Deki - for sharing their special flower with us: we'll never forget it x

Rafflesia hasseltii: a plant seen more by tigers than people. Watching this flower open by night was the closest thing to magic:

A life-changing encounter in Sumatra: Rafflesia hasseltii grows in just a few remote, tiger-patrolled rainforests, accessible only under permit and seen by few. We trekked day and night to find it, and look what happened when we did:

WE FOUND IT! We trekked day and night through tiger-patrolled Sumatran rainforests accessible only under permit for this: Rafflesia hasseltii. Few people have ever seen this flower, and we watched it open by night. Magic.

About to step off the map for a while. Wish us luck x

Today in Sumatra we found forest ghost flowers (Aeginetia sp.). This leafless, parasitic plant has no need for sunlight and blossoms unseen in the very depths of the forest.

The Sumatran jungle is a place where plants corkscrew themselves out of the ground:

Deep in the Sumatran jungle today we found the extraordinary flowers of Rhizanthes pushing their fangs through the forest floor. A sap-sucking, leafless parasite, this is one of the world's weirdest plants.

Today we found something magical, deep in the wild green heart of Sumatra: Rafflesia kemumu in full bloom. One of the world's largest flowers, to see this extremely rare species in full bloom is truly special.

Back in the land of happy plants and people: Sumatra 💫

It's good to be back in the land of the snake fruit (Salacca zalacca). Indonesia 🫶🏻

Trevesia burckii produces otherworldly leaves the shape of snowflakes. This formation may be an adaptation to help sunlight filter down to lower leaves, helping the plant photosynthesize in shaded forests.