"Rafflesia arnoldii" at the Springs of Musi

"Rafflesia arnoldii" at the Springs of Musi

Care Team members Puspa Rare (TPPL) Kepahiang, Bengkulu, Tuesday (16/2/10), showed that arnoldii Rafflesia buds ready to bloom at the growth point in protected forests Leaf Hill, Kepahiang, Bengkulu. Since 2000, TPPL preserve and maintain the 21 points of rare flowers grow up to 1 meter in diameter in protected forests because the habitat of the giant flower more damage.

Lenka, Czech tourists about 40 years old, was sobbing at the end of 2009 and in the protected forest Leaf Hill, Kepahiang District, Bengkulu Province. He did not want to separate from Rafflesia  arnoldii flower, a flower of rare endemic species that grows in Sumatra, Bengkulu.

Earlier, after the excitement of having a direct view Raflesia, Lenka confidently head into the hole closer to the middle of the flower bloom. His nose was pressed against the edge of the hole, and Lenka was deeply inhaling the wafting scent of flowers in a hole 20 inches in diameter at the center of the five petals of rare flowers that bloom at 80 inches in diameter that.

Not happened. Lenka did not pass out, much less toxicity. The same admiration soon spread to other foreign tourists who then went to see.

"Action Lenka and understanding of flowers break Raflesia for this," said Burmansyah (37), Care Team members Puspa Rare (TPPL) Bengkulu, while accompanying an expedition team Musi Browse Raflesia 2010 saw the flower species blooming soon arnoldii in Bukit Daun protected forests, Kepahiang, Tuesday (16/2/10).

So far, Burmansyah said, people tend to understand the interest Raflesia as carrion flowers. Understanding must be corrected.

Lenka spirit that saw the blossoming Raflesia immediately transmitted to us upon entering Bukit Daun protected forests. Pacet, bloodsucking animals that are often attached at the foot or hand, not hinder travel to the location of rare flowers were beautiful.

The location has a slope of about 60 degrees, just above one of the springs that drain water into the River Ketapang. This river empties into the Musi River in Kepahiang area.

Forest is the habitat found in the growing TPPL Raflesia located five kilometers from the center of the village dam Monok, Kepahiang. The journey continues on foot 250 meters to one of the flowers found in the woods.

New walking distance of 150 meters into the woods, Burmansyah suddenly stopped. His hand was pointing to the hanging tree. "That Raflesia plants or called liana," he said.

Following instructions Burmansyah, if the way in the woods was found liana, we will soon see the exotic Rafflesia arnoldii. After walking in the clear stream of spring water, the journey ended in the woods with a slope of nearly 60 degrees. Right at the root of the tree, a lump of reddish orange flowers appears. "It's almost Raflesia flowers bloom. We expect to blossom five days," said Holidin (42), members of other TPPL.

Raflesia creeping stems grow attached to the ground as a flower grows. Along the rod stuck in the wet ground, small bumps appeared six aliases small shoots like brownish-black warts, would Raflesia. At the bottom of the rod lying flowers look Raflesia 40 centimeters in diameter are almost blooming, at the top of the bumps seen candidates’ flowers.

According to Holidin, flowers Raflesia take nine months to grow and blossom. Growth begins with bud-shaped appearance of the wart-like protrusion on the stem. Shoots will continue to grow in the form of round like cabbage, but cloaked in black leather. After nine months, so the skin will peel the petals of the red will be visible. According to Holidin, it does not suck flower insects or flies. Flowers Raflesia arnoldii type that we see will bloom also does not cause poisoning.

The difference became clear when we come to the location of carrion flower cultivation of Amorphophallus titanium in 4 Mess Village, Village dam Monok, Kepahiang, behind the house Holidin brother, Zul Zum Dihamzah (40).

At that location, looking Amorphopallus titanium, one of the dead flowers, grow. Amorphophallus is a dead flower that grows from tubers.

Jumadi (22), members of other TPPL, said, Amorphophallus grow to three feet high and large is more like inverted bells. Flowers also have a monument shaped like a hump in the middle of the petals.

Every time flowering Amorphophallus takes 22 days from bud to blossom. Amorphophallus blooms only one day stand. Morning and evening bloom wilted. Amorphophallus also broadcast the stench, but more like the smell can smell carrion from a distance of 100 meters.

Another reference from Compass Information Center (PIK) said, Amorphophallus titanium is carrion flower which was first discovered in 1878 in Kepahiang, Bengkulu, by Odoardo Beccari, the Italian botanist.

While arnoldii Rafflesia was discovered by Thomas Stanford Raffles, Governor of Bengkulu at the time, along with his friend, Dr. Joseph Arnold. Both found Raflesia flowers on May 20, 1818 on the island width, near the Manna River, South Bengkulu.

Associated with the dissemination of knowledge about Raflesia, TPPL consisting of four brothers and preservation observation Raflesia since 2000. In self-taught, they learn where the flowers grow, growth rates, and liana or stem Raflesia itself.

During 10 years of continuous observation, they sure Raflesia is a flower that grows on the trunk is rooted, not a parasite growing interest from spores. Flowers Raflesia emerged from liana which collapsed on the ground and from the liana Raflesia flower buds appear.

Jumadi said, Raflesia also only grow in one type of liana, liana with flesh that is white stems and leaves with a width of not more than seven inches. "There are all kinds liana, but only on that type Raflesia liana growth," said Jumadi.

TPPL understood as a liana vines growing in the humid tropical rain forest, rain bercurah tall, dark at the bottom of the canopy, and green throughout the year. To be alive, liana must grow close to the water or in soil that contains water.

To prove the hypothesis from the observations so far, since the year 2009 TPPL started cultivated liana. They cut liana stems. Raflesia is a flower that grows with the roots, not a parasitic plant.

TPPL understanding was very different from the understanding of experts found in the PIK and studies in the book The Ecology of Sumatra, The Ecology of Indonesia Series Volume I.

Members Raflesia TPPL trying to be left alone ignorant hands. In fact, since 1978 Raflesia been declared endangered and must be protected. Government through Presidential Decree No. 4 of 1993 has set a rare Raflesia as the national flower. TPPL will continue to attempt to keep the habitat of rare flowers.