Dr Chris Thorogood fulfilled a childhood dream last month after travelling deep into the Philippines rainforest to lay eyes on the otherworldly Rafflesia banaoana. The rare parasitic plant is the most elusive species of the genus named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, and is only found in the deep rainforests of Luzon island.

Thorogood is believed to be the first Westerner to see the pungent plant, his trip aided by local botanists and achieved with permission of the indigenous Banao community. Upon finding the bright, smelly bloom, Thorogood says he was reduced to tears.

Dr Chris Thorogood is a botanist at Oxford University, deputy director of Oxford Botanic Garden and author of multiple books about plants.