Two Rafflesia Flowers In Perfect Bloom In The Maninjau Lake Forest Area

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Two Rafflesia Arnoldii flowers were found in full bloom at the same time in a resident's garden in the Maninjau Lake forest area, Agam Regency, West Sumatra.

Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Resort (KSDA) Maninjau Ade Putra in Lubukbasung, said the rare flower and protected by Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems, bloomed on the fifth day.

"The flower was found when we monitored the Rafflesia flower in the area, Friday (8/7) and found two individuals that were in perfect bloom," said Ade Putra, quoted from Antara, Monday, July 11.

The location of the flower is about two meters and between the first and second flowers is bordered by trees. At that location, eight knobs and six individuals were found in a wilted or rotten condition.

"One knob is expected to bloom in the next 10 days, because the petals have started to lift," he said.

He added that the Rafflesia flower in Jorong Data Simpang Cold, Nagari Paninjauan, Tanjungraya District was found in 2018.

The Rafflesia flower has bloomed about a dozen times and some even bloomed between the trees in 2020.

"We found Rafflesia flowers at that location at two points with a distance of about 50 meters," he said.

He admitted that in Agam there were 16 points of finding rafflesia flowers spread across the sub-districts of Palembayan, Tanjungraya, Palupuh, Baso, Kamangmagek, Tilatangkamang, Malalak, and Matur.

The flower grows and develops in community forest areas, protected forests, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and the home page of Batang Palupuh residents, Palupuh District on behalf of Joni Hartono, after he succeeded in cultivating it.

The flowers, among others, grow in high altitude locations that have moisture and forests that are still beautiful.

The flower cycle is quite fast with a time of eight to 10 days from blooming to full bloom, and then withering.

When it blooms, the flower looks quite beautiful. The momentum is awaited by residents, domestic and foreign tourists to see from a close distance.