VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Agam, W Sumatera - The world's largest Rafflesia tuan-mudae that grew in Agam, West Sumatera Province has begun to wither as its reddish-orange petals have turned blackish, on the eighth day of its blossom, this Monday.

As recorded by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of Agam, the rare parasitic plant first bloomed on Monday, December 30, 2019 and later on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, was at its peak where the diameter extended to 111 centimeters. On its blooming period, the location of this flower received a lot of visits from local and national tourists, as well as Mayor of Agam and Vice Governor of West Sumatra.

Since Friday, January 3, the location of this protected flora according to the Law Number 5 of 1990 about Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, had been secured to avoid any harm to its buds.

"We found around five big-sized flower buds, some of which are expected to bloom over the next several weeks," the Forest Ecosystem Manager of BKSDA Agam, Ade Putra, noted.

In 2017, the world's largest flower of Rafflesia tuan-mudae was recorded with a diameter measuring 107 centimeters, which bloomed at the same location of the Maninjau conservation forest.

Since then, some 43 flower buds have been discovered. They bloom one by one every month. (ANTARA)