Initially, It Was Thought That Bongkahan Kayu TURNed Out To Be A Mekar Giant Bangga Flower With A Height Of 4.35 Meters At The Agam Sittingkai

The West Sumatra BKSDA observed giant corpse flowers bloom in Jorong Sitingkai, Nagari Koto Rantang, Palupuh District, Agam Regency. (Between/Doc of the West Sumatra BKSDA)

SUMBAR - A giant rare and protected carcass flower was found in bloom in a betel nut plantation owned by residents in Jorong Sittingkai, Nagari Koto Rantang, Palupuh District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra (West Sumatra) on Sunday 4 December.

Head of the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Ardi Andono said the flower with the type Amorphophallus titanum has a height of 4.35 meters and a width of more than one meter.

"For its own size, as reported, it is high and large," he said in Lubukbasung, West Sumatra, Monday, December 5, confiscated by Antara.

He said the flower was first noticed by the garden owner two weeks ago. Previously he thought it was just a piece of wood left over from the garden cleaning.

This information was forwarded to Heru Nofriandi, who is also a protection activist and observer of rare plants when doing activities in his garden.

"The findings were also reported to the BKSDA through the Maninjau Region II Conservation Resort," he said.

He added that this plant is a giant corpse flower with the Latin name Amorphophallus titanum and is a protected plant type.

When found in perfect bloom conditions on the first day. The flower will bloom perfectly until it rots with a span of 7-10 days.

The corpse flower itself is known to experience two phases, namely a vegetative or leafy phase which is characterized by the presence of stems and leaves and lasts up to two years, and a generative or flowering phase that lasts for 7-10 days.

"Unlike the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower plant which is called two housed flower, the corpse flower is one housed flower that has male and female flowers," he said.

He admitted that currently there are four types of corpse flowers found in the Agam area, namely Amorphophallus titanum, Amorphophallus gigas, Amorphophallus paoenipholius, and Amorphophallus variabilis.

Carrion flowers include puspa which are protected according to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems and Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number 106 of 2018.