RAFLESIA ARNOLDI

Rafflesia arnoldii or giant padma is an obligate parasitic plant that grows on stem liana (vines) of the genus Tetrastigma. The other Raflesia species also have the same host. Rafflesia arnoldii was first discovered in 1818 in the tropical forests of Sumatra by a guide who worked on Dr. Joseph Arnold who was taking part in the Thomas Stanford Raffles expedition, so that this plant was named after the discoverer's history, namely the merger between Raffles and Arnold. Rafflesia arnoldii has no leaves so it is unable to carry out photosynthesis alone and extract nutrients from the host tree. The shape that is seen from the Raflesia flower is only the flowers that develop in a certain period of time. Its existence seemed to be hidden for months in its host's body until it finally grew flowers that only bloomed a week. Raflesia flower is the identity of Bengkulu province and as one of the rare treasures of the three Indonesian national flowers accompanying the national treasure (white jasmine or Jasminum sambac) and the charm of the moon (orchid or Phalaenopsis amabilis) based on Presidential Decree No. 4 of 1993 on National Animals and Flowers.

Rafflesia distribution and habitat are scattered in the mountain forests below West Java, lowland forests along the southern coast of West Java and Central Java, lowland forests of Meru Betiri National Park, and tropical forests on the island of Sumatra. Some of the locations that are often found grow in the Rafflesia arnoldii flower, among others, in Kerinci Seblat National Park, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Seblat Elephant Training Center in North Bengkulu district, and Padang Guci Kaur Regency, Bengkulu. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park itself has been designated as the center of conservation of this plant. Until now rafflesia flowers have not been successfully bred outside their natural habitat.

Of the approximately 30-type raffles in the world, only one species is considered endangered, namely Rafflesia magnifica, which grows in the Philippines. One type of Raflesia that can grow outside its habitat is the Rafflesia patma. Although not directly conserving Rafflessia arnoldii, habitat conservation efforts carried out by WWF Indonesia in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS) in Lampung and Bengkulu, are expected to support the conservation of this rare fauna. In collaboration with various related partners, WWF also continues to build awareness and concern for the community to maintain and preserve these typical Indonesian plants.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia_arnoldii
Picture: Google