Rafflesia blooms in Lampung

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: At least two examples of the rare Rafflesia, an endotropic parasitic flower growing in the thick forest of South Bukit Barisan National Park in Kubunicik, Sukaraja Atas, West Lampung district, Sumatra, have again bloomed, a conservation agency official said.

"The Rafflesia only blooms once every one and a half years," said Heru Raharjo, head of the Bukit Barisan National Park as quoted by Antara Wednesday.

The flower, first found by British administrator Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles when he was assigned to the areas of Lampung and Bengkulu in 1822, cannot yet be re-planted outside its habitat, he said. (edt)