Rafflesia Researchers Visit Boven Lais Protected Forest In Bengkulu

Bengkulu (Antara Bali)- Several researchers of Rafflesia spp and Amorphophallus spp from eight countries visited the Boven Lais protected forest, which is a habitat of the two gigantic flowers in North Bengkulu District, Bengkulu Province, on Wednesday.

The field visit was part of the agenda of a three-day international symposium on Rafflesia and Amorphophallus held here on Sept. 14-16, Chairman of the organizing committee Didie Kuswanto, concurrently director of Bogor Botanical Garden, stated.

Boven Lais forest, which is known for its Palak Siring Kemumu waterfall, is a habitat of Amorphophallus spp and two Rafflesia species: Rafflesia gadutensis and Rafflesia arnoldii.

The researchers visited the site where the two buds of Rafflesia gadutensis were supposed to be in bloom. However, one of the buds, which was expected to be in bloom when they visited the site, was severely damaged.

"It was in good shape, and we estimated that it would be ready to bloom. But, two days ago, an unknown person damaged it. We are very disappointed," he remarked.

The participating foreign researchers came from China, the Philippines, Malaysia, France, and Japan, among others.  

Bengkulu's tropical forests are home to four species of Rafflesia: the province's icon Rafflesia arnoldii, Rafflesia hasselti, Rafflesia gadutensis, and Rafflesia bengkuluensis.

Amorphophallus spp species include Titanum, Variabilis, Phaeonifolius, and Gigas.

Of the total 32 Rafflesia species, 22 are found in Indonesia spread across the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo.

Bengkulu Province is one of the few habitats of the world's largest and rarest gigantic Rafflesia species that are only found in the forests of Southeast Asia in Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, and the Philippines.

Rafflesia is the official state flower of Indonesia, the Sabah state in Malaysia, and also of the Surat Thani Province of Thailand.  

Being discovered by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and British botanist Josepth Arnold in Bengkulu in 1818, Rafflesia is a parasitic flowering plant with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. (WDY)