Flower Power

Nature finds a way to replenish and restore

With news filled by stories of nature suffering due to development, tourism, and extreme weather events, it is refreshing to hear about the arrival of a natural recordbreaker. The world’s largest Rafflesia tuan-mudae has bloomed in the Maninjau Nature Conservation area in Palembayan district in Agam regency, West Sumatera. As if to welcome in the new decade, the arrival of the giant plant has been cause for great celebration, and, as such, is under close protection, while an information plaque has been positioned at the site.

“This is the largest Rafflesia tuan-mudae in the world at 111cm in diameter,” Khairi Ramadhan, Section Head of the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency for Conservation Area 1, said. The previous record-holding Rafflesia tuan-mudae was found at the same location on the same host plant in 2017. That one boasted a diameter of 107cm and beat another plant in Malaysia to the title. However, with the new discovery there is no question who is the biggest of them all.