The Biggest Flower on Earth and Primitive You can Find in Indonesia

RAFFLESIA ARNOLDI

Did You Know The Raflesia Arnoldi Flower is the Bengkulu City Icon Symbol! Which became the Raflesia Earth Slogan.

Raflesia Arnoldi flower was first discovered in 1797 by Deschamps and the type found was R. Patma type. However, all species and records, and illustrations from the 11 years of research that were confiscated could be spoils during the war in the days of England and France.

But in 1954 the Scientific world only learned that Raflesia Arnoldi was first discovered by Deschamps. And the next discovery was discovered by Thomas Stamford Raflles with another scientist Jhosep Arnold in Bengkulu. And Raflesia Arnoldi is a combination of the names of the two scientists, Jhosep Arnold and Thomas Stamford Raflles. And then the discovery of the two scientists was published in 1821. Rafflesia arnoldii or giant padma is an obligate parasitic plant that grows on the liana stem (vines) of the genus Tetrastigma. 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 following the Thomas Stanford Raffles expedition, so that this plant was named according to the history of its inventor, the merger between Raffles and Arnold.

Rafflesia arnoldii has no leaves so it is unable to carry out photosynthesis itself and take nutrients from its host tree. The visible form of the Raflesia flower is only the flower that develops over a certain period of time. Its existence seemed hidden for months in the body of its host until finally growing flowers that only bloom a week. Raflesia flower is the identity of Bengkulu province and as one of the rare puspa of three Indonesian national flowers accompanying the national puspa (white jasmine or Jasminum sambac) and charm puspa (moon orchid or Phalaenopsis amabilis) based on Presidential Decree No. 4 of 1993 concerning National Animals and Flowers.

Morphological Description

Rafflesia arnoldii which has a broad flower with five petals. Flowers are the only part of the plant visible from Rafflesia arnoldii, due to the absence of roots, leaves and stems. One flower consists of five rough petals that are orange and speckled with white cream. When a flower blooms, its diameter can reach 70 to 110 cm with a height reaching 50 cm and weighing up to 11 kg.

Rafflesia arnoldii has reproductive organs, namely stamens and pistils, in one house located in the middle of the flower base which is shaped like a barrel. The process of pollinating rafflesia flowers is assisted by insects that are attracted to the pungent odor of flowers. Flower buds form along the stems with a flower growth period can take up to 9 months and a blooming period of about 5-7 days, then the raflesia flower will wilt and die.

Ecology and habitat

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

Of the approximately 30 species of raflesia throughout 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 Rafflesia patma.

Threat

The high rate of deforestation, forest fires, and the declining size of Sumatra's natural forests pose a serious threat to the sustainability of Rafflesia arnoldii. In addition, threats also come from people who damage and take raflesia flower pistil to be used as traditional medicine.

WWF Efforts in Habitat Conservation

Although it does not directly conserve Rafflessia arnoldii, habitat conservation efforts undertaken by WWF Indonesia in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS) in Lampung and Bengkulu, are expected to support the preservation of this rare fauna. In collaboration with various related partners, WWF also continues to build public awareness and concern to maintain and preserve this unique Indonesian plant.

The Biggest Rafflesia Flower that Grows in Indonesia is the World's Highlight 

West Sumatra - Indonesian conservationists say they have seen the largest species of rafflesia that was once called one of the largest flowers in the world.

Rafflesia young master blooms in a forest in the Maninjau Nature Reserve, Agam Regency, West Sumatra.

This is not only a concern of the country, but also in the world spotlight. Many foreign media are interested in reviewing the existence of these flowers.

According to the monitoring Liputan6.com, Saturday (4/1/2020), one of the media from Singapore, Channel News Asia, and the British media, This is Money, both discussed Rafflesia which became the world's largest plant with the title "Biggest bloom: 'World's largest 'flower spotted in Indonesia ".

Still with the same discussion, media from Vietnam, Vietnamplus, also discussed about the plants that became the largest plants in the world through his article titled "World’s largest flower spotted in Indonesia".

Not only that, other Asian media namely Malaysian media, The Star, also discussed topics with a similar title that is "World’s largest flower 'spotted in Indonesia".

In addition, one of the online media versions of e-Radio USA, an American media, also discusses the news about the world's largest plants in Indonesia through an article titled "Biggest bloom: 'the world's largest' flower spotted in Indonesia".

Still from America, the MSN media raised the issue through a short 48-second video titled "Indonesian conservationists say they've spotted 'the world's largest' flower".

Rafflesia The Biggest Young Master Ever Documented



Rafflesia Petals

This giant young master-rafflesia is a fleshy red flower with spots like white blisters on its huge petals. Its diameter reaches 111 cm.

That's bigger than the previous record of 107 cm, also found in the forests of West Sumatra a few years ago.

"This is the largest young master Rafflesia ever documented," Ade Putra said at the Center for Natural Resources and Conservation in Sumatra, quoted from CNA (1/3/2020).

The blooming flower will only last for about a week before it withers and rot, he added. Giant young master-rafflesia also grows in several Southeast Asian countries.

The flower was named Rafflesia after the British invaders Sir Stamford Raffles saw it in Indonesia in the early 19th century. This species grows in several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines where there are recorded Rafflesia specimens with a size of 100cm.

This parasitic plant, sometimes called the corpse flower because it mimics the smell of rotten meat to attract insects.

The dangerous smell is the smell of Amorphophallus Titanum (giant corpse flower) from Indonesia. The flower is in the form of a phallus that can reach heights of up to 3 meters.

The Rafflesia arnoldii flower blooms in the Bukit Daun protected forest area, Kepahiang Regency, Bengkulu. (Liputan6.com/Yuliardi Hardjo Putra)

Rafflesia plants are often referred to as "monster flowers" because of their parasitic nature and foul odor.

In Malaysia, one of the oldest rainforests in the world has ever grown - a plant that has no roots and leaves - the parasite.

While Rafflesia has just bloomed in the forests of West Sumatra and has a diameter of almost 4 feet - which will make it the largest flower ever recorded, as reported by CNN.

This plant has no roots or leaves. It eats host plants for life, drinks water and takes nutrients from its host.

Rafflesia life is also short. His mouth is open only for one week before it decays and dies - he only borrows time as the world's biggest interest

How bro? we as Bengkulu citizens must be proud as Bengkulu citizens who were the first place to find this very beautiful plant species

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Source: Kompas.com #bengkulu #bungaraflesia #kotabengkulu #bengkuluhitz #pantaipanjang #bentengmarlborough #indonesia #tiktok