Endangered! Reasons To Get To Know Rafflesia Hasseltii Before Being Lost Forever

YOGYAKARTA - The wealth of Indonesian flora holds rare gems that are now on the verge of collapse. This article will invite you to know Rafflesia hasseltii, a giant flower that is unique and a mystery that we must protect.

Why does this iconic species increasingly disappear from our tropical forests? Before it's too late let's find an urgent reason why you should understand the status of conservation and its characteristics now.

Adapted from the Science Watchdog page, VOI has summarized several interesting facts about rare corpse flowers as follows:

Rafflesia hasseltii is one of the members of the Rafflesia genus which is known as the largest flower on Earth. Unlike plants in general, this species is a parasitic plant that lives entirely depending on the roots of the host plant of the Tetrastigma genus.

Its physical uniqueness makes this flower used as an object of Sumatra's ecotourism material. This flower is known for its bloom on the forest floor by displaying thick large red petals, sometimes decorated with white spots, and emitting a distinctive strong odor similar to the smell of carrion which functions to attract pollinating insects.

Although often equated with Rafflesia arnoldii, R. hasseltii has differences in the size of buds and morphologies scaled.

In addition, because Rafflesia blooms very rarely and unexpectedly, it adds to mystique and urgency to protect it. The rediscovery of this flower at a location is an extraordinary event and deserves international ecological attention.

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Unfortunately, this giant flower is now on the verge of extinction. According to research, about 60% of all Rafflesia species are in the category of severe threat. The main reason behind this threat is simple but fatal, namely Habitat Damage.

This parasitic species can only live in very specific hosts (Tetrastigma), and when the primary rainforests whose habitats are omitted or damaged, these two types of plants will disappear.

Well, the worrying fact is that two-thirds of Rafflesia's habitat known to be outside protected areas makes them vulnerable to deforestation and land use changes.

The good news is that recently Rafflesia hasseltii was rediscovered in its natural habitat in the Hiring Batang Sumi area, Sumpur Kudus District, West Sumatra. This flower is specifically protected by national regulations, namely PP No. 7 of 1999.

The discovery in West Sumatra not only confirms the existence of this rare species, but also highlights the important role of the local conservation area. The formation of this flower is proof that the Nagari ecosystem (village forest) is still able to sustain fragile flora life.

To ensure Rafflesia hasseltii is not lost forever, conservation efforts must be collaborative.

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) views this rediscovery as a momentum to encourage Community-Based Conservation.

So conservation should involve partnerships between scientists, universities, and local communities that act as annual forest rangers.

Knowing Rafflesia hasseltii also values the contribution of researchers and the field community. In addition, support for local ecotourism initiatives and multiple programs carried out in institutions is also key.