Rare Rafflesia Keithii Flower Found in Keningau, Sabah

KENINGAU (Sabah), Nov 22 (Bernama) -- A group of researchers Tuesday found the rare Rafflesia Keithii flower in bloom near a cave in the Batu Minitinduk forest, about 45 minutes overland from the Minitinduk Trails sub-station. The researchers, from the Keningau District Tourism and Keningau Visit Year 2018 Committee, found the flower, measuring one metre in diameter, near the Laing Bingkor Cave, said head researcher Rafie Robert. He said in a statement to Bernama that the flower “has a very beautiful shape”. Rafflesia Keithii is one of the three species of the Rafflesia flower found in the Sabah state in east Malaysia. It grows in lowland areas, takes about nine months to bloom and withers in four to five days. The flower was named after the former forest conservator in North Borneo (now Sabah), Henry (Harry) George Keith. The Rafflesia Keithii flower is difficult to find as it grows in moist lowland areas and, as such, Rafie advised people who find the plant to not destroy it as the flower could be a tourist attraction for Visit Keningau Year 2018. -- BERNAMA