Rafflesia bengkuluensis and Rafflesia gadutensis flowers are currently blooming in Bengkulu Province, Sumatra.
“We found Rafflesia bengkuluensis blooming in its habitat within the Penangkulan River basin,” Andi Yan, a member of the Padang Guci Youths rare flower community, said on Monday.
The bengkuluensis present in Manau IX village in Kaur district is anticipated to bloom on Tuesday (February 13).
Rafflesia gadutensis is currently in full bloom within the Boven Lais protected forest in northern Bengkulu district.
“Currently, the flower petals are perfectly open,” said Riki Septian, a member of the North Bengkulu rare flower community.
Many domestic and foreign tourists have visited the Boven Lais and Bukit Daun protected forests situated within the northern and central districts of Bengkulu to benefit from the sighting of the large flowers of their habitats.
“We have created a path here and provided tourists with homestay,” he said.
At least five species of Rafflesia flowers have been identified in Bengkulu Province, specifically Rafflesia arnoldii, Rafflesia bengkuluensis, Rafflesia gadutensis, Rafflesia hasselti and Rafflesia kemumu.
Kaur District is an endemic habitat of Rafflesia bengkuluensis identified by Rafflesia experts from the University of Bengkulu and Kebangsaan University, Malaysia in 2005.
In addition to Rafflesia bengkulensis, Rafflesia arnoldii also grows within the Kaur forest.
Source: Antara news agency
