Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
Researchers at the National Research and Innovation Agency (
BRIN
) from the Biosystematics and Evolution Research Center, Joko Ridho Witono, revealed the latest field findings regarding the existence of Rafflesia hasseltii, a rare flower species that is Indonesia’s biological wealth.
These findings are part of collaborative research between BRIN, Bengkulu University, and the Bengkulu Puspa Langka Care Community in a project entitled The First Regional Pan-Phylogeny for Rafflesia, which aims to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of all types of Rafflesia in Southeast Asia.
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The research received funding support from the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum and the RIIM Expedition Program from BRIN.
According to Joko, this research confirms Indonesia’s position as the country with the highest Rafflesia diversity in the world, along with the Philippines.To date, there are 16 types of Rafflesia recorded in Indonesia, and the BRIN team has succeeded in collecting 13 samples for DNA analysis.
“This activity is part of our efforts to understand the genetic relationships between types of Rafflesia and ensure their conservation in their natural habitat,” said Joko when interviewed by the BRIN Public Communications team, Sunday (23/11).
The research, which began in early 2025, involves cross-country collaboration with funding support from the University of Oxford Botanical Garden and Arboretum.
The BRIN team is fully responsible for sample collection and analysis in Indonesia, while other countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines carry out parallel research in their respective regions.
“We ensure that no genetic material leaves Indonesia. All research processes are carried out legally and with permits,” he stressed.
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The two Rafflesia Arnoldii flowers are now in full bloom at the same time in Selamat Sudiarjo Village, Bermani Ulu District, Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province, since Saturday (22/11).
Chair of the Rejang Lebong Puspa Rare Care Group (KPPL) Tedi Riski said that at the location where the two Rafflesia Arnoldii flowers were blooming, there was also a knob or flower that was expected to bloom in the next few weeks.
“There are two Rafflesia Arnoldii flowers that have bloomed, and the other one is still in active knob form. This shows that its habitat is in Selamat Sudiarjo Village, the location where it grows is very healthy and productive,” he said when contacted
Between
in Rejang Lebong, Sunday (23/11).
“Access to the location is considered challenging but can still be visited by tourists, where from Curup City (the capital city of Rejang Lebong) it is around 25 kilometers (km) and can be reached by two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles,” he explained.
“The location is about 3 km from Selamat Sudiarjo Village using a two-wheeled vehicle, then the route is about 20 minutes to the blooming point,” he said.
He said visitors who want to see the flowers are asked to be careful because the location of these flowers is in a steep valley with a slope of almost 60 degrees and is slippery.
“Around the area where this flower grows, there are many Rafflesia knobs that are prone to being stepped on. In recent years, this location has often been a place where Rafflesia Arnoldii blooms. Therefore, visitors must preserve its habitat,” he added.
Bermani Ulu District community leader Saikul Latief said that the location where the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower grows in Selamat Sudiarjo Village has been known since 2019, where there are at least seven locations that are the habitat of the iconic flower of Bengkulu Province.
“It blooms here almost every month. In Selamat Sudiarjo Village, now there are seven of the nine locations where Rafflesia flowers grow, the other two locations have disappeared because the hosts where they grew were damaged,” said Saikul.
According to him, the existence of the Rafflesia flower habitat in Selamat Sudiarjo Village, if managed by the local government, could attract tourists to come to Rejang Lebong, this is proven by the large number of foreign tourists who come to the area to see it.
“Those who came yesterday were from Oxford University, England, then from Russia, India, China, the Philippines and several other countries. They came all the way to see this giant flower blooming, it would be a shame if the regional government and related agencies did not develop it,” said Saikul, emphasizing.
(between/gil)
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