The giant Padma (Latin: Rafflesia arnoldii) is a mandatory parasite plant known for having very large flowers, even the largest flower in the world. It grows in the plant tissue vine (liana) Tetrastigma and has no leaves so it is not able to photosynthesize. The naming of this gigantic flower can not be separated by the history of its discovery first in 1818 in the tropical forests of Bengkulu (Sumatra) somewhere near the Manna River, Lubuk Tapi, South Bengkulu Regency, so Bengkulu is known in the world as The Land of Rafflesia or Rafflesia Earth. A guide who works with Dr. Joseph Arnold who discovered this giant flower first. Dr. Joseph Arnold himself was following an expedition led by Thomas Stamford Raffles. So the naming of the Rafflesia arnoldii flower is based on the combined name of Thomas Stamford Raffles as expedition leader and Dr. Joseph Arnold as the inventor of flowers. This plant is endemic to the island of Sumatra, especially the southern part (Bengkulu, Jambi, and South Sumatra). Kerinci Seblat National Park is the main conservation area of this species. This species, together with other members of the Rafflesia genus, is in danger of being doomed to deforestation. In Java grows only one type of parasite padma, Rafflesia padma.
Flowers are not rooted parasites, leafless, and not stemmed. Flower diameter when blooming can reach 1 meter with weight about 11 kilogram. Flowers suck the inorganic and organic elements of the Tetrastigma host plant. The only part that can be called a "plant" is a network that grows in the vines Tetrastigma. Flowers have five crowns that surround a section that looks like a barrel's mouth. At the base of the flower there is a section like a spiny disk, containing stamens or pistils depending on the sex of the flower, male or female. Animals pollinators are flies that are attracted by the foul smell issued by flowers. Flowers are only about a week old (5-7 days) and after that wither and die. The percentage of conception is very small, because male flowers and female flowers can rarely bloom simultaneously within a week, even if there are flies that come to fertilize.
Rafflesia arnoldii or giant padma is a mandatory parasite plant that grows on the stem of lianas (vines) of the Tetrastigma genus. Other Raflesia species also have the same host. Rafflesia arnoldii was first discovered in 1818 in the tropical forests of Sumatra by a guide who worked on Dr. Joseph Arnold, who was following Thomas Stanford Raffles expedition, so the plant is named after the inventor's history of merging between Raffles and Arnold.
Rafflesia arnoldii has no leaves so it is unable to do its own photosynthesis and take the nutrients from its host tree. The visible form of the Raflesia flowers is only the interest that develops within a certain period of time. Its presence seemed hidden for months in the body of its host until it finally grows flowers that only bloom a week. The Raflesia flower is the identity of the province of Bengkulu and as one of the rare puspa of the three national flower of Indonesia accompanying the nation's puspa (jasmine white or Jasminum sambac) and puspa charm (or mek or Phalaenopsis amabilis) based on Presidential Decree No. 4 of 1993 on Animals and National Flowers.
Morphological Description
Rafflesia arnoldii which has a widening flower with five flower crowns. Flowers become the only part of the plant seen from Rafflesia arnoldii, in the absence of roots, leaves and stems. One flower consists of five coarse orange petals and mottled with white cream. When the flowers bloom, the diameter can reach 70 to 110 cm with a height of 50 cm and weighs up to 11 kg.
Rafflesia arnoldii has reproductive organs, namely stamens and pistils, in one house contained in the center of the base of a curved-shaped flower like a barrel. The process of pollination in rafflesia flowers is aided by insects attracted to the stinging smell of flowers. Flower buds are formed along the trunk with the flower growth period can take up to 9 months and the bloom period of 5-7 days, then the raflesia flowers will wither and die.
Ecology and habitat
The spread and habitat of raflesia is spread in the lowland forests of West Java, lowland forests along the southern coast of West Java and Central Java lowland forests of Meru Betiri National Park, as well as tropical forests on the island of Sumatra. Some of the locations that often encountered Rafflesia arnoldii grow flowers include Kerinci Seblat National Park, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Seblat Elephant Training Center in North Bengkulu district, and Padang Guci Kabupaten Kaur, Bengkulu. South Bukit Barisan National Park itself has been designated as a center for the conservation of this plant. Until now rafflesia flowers have not been successfully cultivated outside the original habitat.
Of the approximately 30-species of raflesia worldwide, only one species is considered endangered, the Rafflesia magnifica that grows in the Philippines. One type of Raflesia that can grow outside the habitat is Rafflesia patma.
Threat
The high rate of deforestation, forest fires, and the decline of natural forests of Sumatra is a serious threat to the preservation of Rafflesia arnoldii. In addition, threats also come from destructive society and take the pistil of rafflesia flowers to be used as traditional medicine.
WWF Efforts in Habitat Conservation
Although not directly conserving Rafflessia arnoldii, habitat conservation efforts undertaken by WWF Indonesia in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS) in Lampung and Bengkulu, are expected to support the preservation of this rare fauna. In collaboration with various related partners, WWF also continues to build awareness and awareness of the community to preserve and preserve this unique Indonesian plant.
Developing raflesia with grafting Technique to face the threat of extinction
To survive, Rafflesia sucks the nutrients from its host, Tetrastigma. The existence of Tetrastigma almost spread throughout Indonesia. However, Rafflesia only wants to stick to Tetrastigma in a number of places, such as in Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan,
In addition, Rafflesia also includes exclusive plants. He can not live outside his habitat.
For the first time, Bogor Botanical Gardens managed to develop Rafflesia outside its habitat through grafting technique (grafting) done on Rafflesia patma. The process of grafting has been done since 2004. Experts brought Tetrastigma from Bogor Botanical Gardens to Pangandaran Nature Reserve.
Bogor Botanical Garden and Pangandaran Nature Reserve have some similarities. Although in Pangandaran zero mdpl (meters above sea level) and Bogor 250 mdpl, both have humidity 90 percent.
With that calculation, experts leave for Pangandaran. There, the experts bind Tetrastigma stems brought from Bogor with Tetrastigma stems that have been infected with Rafflesia.
The connection was awaited until it merged about three months and was brought to be developed in Bogor Botanical Garden. Experts claim to have forgotten the project because there is no sign of success
"Finally in 2010, 6 years later, Rafflesia's buds have just started, since June 3, 2009, there are bumps, other than others, not disease, oh it turns Rafflesia connect,".
The team did not know exactly the length of time it took for the rafflesia bud to appear. He considered it still a mystery for researchers.
The team suspected it was caused by a larger body of rafflesia than its host so that nutrients must be absorbed slowly from Tetrastigma in order to survive. Several hypotheses have indeed been presented in a number of studies. For example, from seed to bud it takes one year. However, that is not generally accepted.
"The one who can control the growth of Rafflesia seeds in the host is not there, so it's natural that the growth is long because of the gigantic parasite, everywhere the dark passenger is small so as not to kill his host, so he must be slow,"
In addition to Rafflesia, Indonesia also has other endemic plants, Flower Carrion (Amorphophallus titanum). Both plants are often called by one name, Flower Carrion
Both Rafflesia and Flower Vultures are threatened. Forest fires and forest conversion into palm oil fields are among the causes that need to be scrutinized.
The reason, in order to occur fertilization on Rafflesia who live in the forest, special insects needed to move the stamens from male flowers to female flowers.
If the insect is not there, it will not be a fruit. For Amorphophallus seed dispersion by Hornbirds. If the hornbill is hit, it will not spread its sari. So the genetic variation will not increase. Length of population endurance is lower.
Now, Rafflesia and Vultures have entered as protected plants in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Biological Resources and Ecosystems. The government's efforts in maintaining the environment are necessary to maintain the resilience of Indonesian flora biodiversity.
In Bengkulu ever found four types of Raflesia arnoldii, Raflesia hasselti, Raflesia gadutensis and Raflesia bengkuluensis.
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