Rare giant flower faces extinction in the wild

Bambang Parlupi, Contributor, Jakarta

First discovered by Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari in 1878, Bunga Bangkai (Amorphophallus titanum), which literally means carcass flower, as the rare giant plant is locally known, grows in the wild, mainly on fertile hill slopes in some areas of Sumatra.

"Bunga bangkai is even found in some of the local residents' plantations," said Yuzami, a researcher. The plant grows in the provinces of Aceh, Bengkulu, Lampung and West Sumatra.

As most local residents do not know that it is a rare plant, they often remove it from their land, finding no use for it, she said.

The rare plant's existence in the wild is not only threatened by ignorance, but also rapid changes to its natural habitat caused by several factors, including unrestrained illegal logging, forest exploitation and the disappearance of insects and animals which help spread its seeds. Hunting of the rhinoceros hornbill (Beceros rhinoceros) bird also contributes to the plant's further declining numbers.

"The bird helps distribute the plant's seeds to other places," said Yuzami, who once studied plant taxonomy at the University of New South Wales, Australia.

So far, there's no precise data about the extent of the plant's existence in its natural habitat. Attempts to record numbers of the plant are also difficult because the flower is found in most forests in Sumatra.

The Indonesian government listed this rare flower as a protected plant under government regulation No. 7/1999 on species conservation of flora and fauna. Those who deliberately collect, own, damage, destroy and trade the plant or its parts, dead or alive, also violate Law No. 5/1990 on the conservation of biological natural resources and their ecosystem.

Bunga bangkai, also known as the Titan Arum, belongs to the Araceae genus. It is unique in that it has two life cycles, generative and vegetative.

Early in the wet season, after the Amorphophallus tuber undergoes a "resting period" for several months, the vegetative cycle begins and the stem, roots and leaves grow. In the dry season, the stem and leaves droop and whither, leaving only the tuber buried underground.

"The life cycle of the carcass flower, when it still has leaves, ranges between six months and a year only," said Yuzami.

Then, the plant becomes dormant again. After several years, the tuber will grow again, either in a vegetative or generative manner.

If it grows vegetatively, the life cycle as mentioned before will be repeated, but if it is a generative life cycle, cone- shaped flower buds will appear. After four to six months, the flower will be in full bloom, though without the presence of any leaves. It is at this time the flower emits a foul smell, just like the smell of a carcass.

Yuzami said the flower in one tuber takes between two and four years to form.

The flower's unique nature has also attracted many researchers wanting to discover any benefits it could possess for humans. The researchers include representatives from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

Those interested in witnessing this rare flower can find specimens at the country's four botanical gardens. Abroad, the flower is also available for public viewing at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia.