Sumatra's Arnoldi the world`s biggest rafflesia

Antara 23 Aug 10;

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - Arnoldi Rafflesia is the biggest of the 25 known rafflesia snake-plant in the world, a rafflesia researcher of Bengkulu University Agus Susatya said.

"We have found that of the 25 rafflesia species throughout the world, Arnoldi is the biggest," katanya.

He said an Arnoldi Rafflesia has a diameter of 70-110 centimeters, and the other species are smaller.

"Some of the other species as found in Bengkulu is Haseltii Rafflesia which has a diameter of 30-60 centimeters, Gadutensis 50 centimeters, and Bengkuluensis 30 centimeters," he said.

Arnoldi Rafflesia is endemic in West Sumatra, Bengkulu, and Aceh, and to find it researchers have to go deep into forested land.

Rafflesias are snake flowers without roots, branches and leaves, and Arnoldi Rafflesias are parasitic flowers found in Bengkulu by an Indonesian guide working for Dr. Joseph Arnold in 1818, and later named after Thomas Stamford Raffles, head of the expedition.
Rafflesias are wide, bright red and with spots. When blooming this flower may have a diameter of up to 1 meters and 50 centimeter tall.

In Bengkulu, rafflesias are found in several places like the Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS), South Mountain Range Nasional Park (TNBBS), elephant training center (PLG), and at Padang Guci in Kaur regency.

The flower is short-lived especially in the absence of proper treatment including against ants and other small insects.

"Rafflesia flowers are best perserved in their habitat," he said.(*)