Meet the noble rhubarb, a real giant of the plant world!

Had to share this again. Meet the noble rhubarb, a real giant of the plant world! It's not your grandma's rhubarb pie filling. This one lives high up in the Himalaya mountains, at super cold and sunny places where not even trees can handle the weather.

Here's what makes it special: it builds a kind of translucent skirt around its flowers. Imagine a plant wearing a fancy, glowing lampshade! This "skirt" is actually made of special leaves that act like a tiny greenhouse, keeping the flower warm and cozy despite the cold mountain air. It even protects the flower from strong sunlight.

But that's not all! The plant also has a clever way to attract special flies to pollinate its flowers. It releases a scent that these flies love, and the flies end up laying their eggs right next to the plant's seeds. It's a win-win situation: the flies get a safe place for their babies, and the plant gets pollinated.

Resembling a bright yellow pagoda, the noble rhubarb mainly grows at 4,000 meters above sea level around the alpine subnival belt. This area has the highest altitude among terrestrial ecosystems, with raging gales and sharp day-night temperature differences. The noble rhubarb has its own way to survive such harsh environmental conditions.

Sadly, this amazing plant is quite rare. But hopefully, with a little care, it can keep thriving in its mountain home. The picture shows what it looks like when it's healthy and hasn't been picked on too much.