A new study, published on September 20 in the journal Plants, People, Planet, warns that most varieties of the world's largest flower, Rafflesia, are at risk of extinction.
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| Rafflesia flower is considered the largest flower in the world today. (Source: The Guardian) |
Previously, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified one of the varieties of this flower as "critically endangered".
Rafflesia flowers have long captured the imagination with their giant red-spotted petals.
In fact, it is a parasitic plant that grows on tropical vines throughout parts of Southeast Asia, producing the world's largest flowers.
The flowers grow unpredictably and remain a mystery. Botanists have been able to propagate them outside their natural environment, but only to a limited extent.
To better understand Rafflesia and its conservation status, an international team of botanists examined 42 known Rafflesia species and their habitats – mainly in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
The results show that, due to the rapid loss of forest habitat, as well as inadequate conservation strategies and protection plans, this plant species is increasingly at risk than before.
Researchers estimate that “60% of Rafflesia species are facing serious extinction.”
The study also found that some species were even at risk of extinction before they were known to science, calling for further research on the plant.
Research shows that Rafflesia flowers grow in quite limited areas, making them particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction.
However, the study also highlights some bright spots in conservation efforts, including successful propagation at a botanical garden in West Java and sustainable ecotourism around the plant in West Sumatra, Indonesia.
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