Two Rafflesia Flowers Bloom in Kepahiang, Bengkulu

Bengkulu, May 29 (Antara) - Two Rafflesia arnoldii flowers have blossomed in their habitat in the Bukit Daun protected forest located in Kepahiang District, Bengkulu Province. "Many visitors have visited the flowers' site over the last five days, including the participants of the Bencoolen Travel Fair," Holidin, a coordinator of the Tebat Monok Rare Flower Lovers' Group, stated here, Friday. The flowers are found in a location some 400 meters from a main road and will last until a few days to come, he remarked. Bengkulu Province is one of the few habitats of the world's rarest gigantic Rafflesia species that are found only in the southeastern Asian forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Rafflesia is the official flower of Indonesia's Bengkulu province, Sabah state in Malaysia, and also Surat Thani Province in Thailand. The Bengkulu administration is currently mapping the habitats of Rafflesia species in the province and promoting the flower species to attract more tourists. Four species of Rafflesia exist in Bengkulu's forests: Rafflesia arnoldii, gadutensis, hasselti, and bengkuluensis. The Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest species of Rafflesia flowers. Rafflesia arnoldii can grow over 100 centimeters in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kilograms. It is generally unisexual, meaning that every plant just bears both female and male reproductive system.