Jakarta. Indonesian scientists have documented new field findings on Rafflesia hasseltii as part of a major regional research project aimed at decoding the full genetic relationships of the world’s largest flower genus, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) announced on Sunday.

The study, conducted by BRIN in collaboration with the University of Bengkulu and the Bengkulu Rare Plant Care Community, is part of the First Regional Pan-Phylogeny for Rafflesia project, which seeks to reconstruct the evolutionary tree of all Rafflesia species in Southeast Asia. The work is funded by the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum and BRIN’s RIIM Expedition Program.

Joko Ridho Witono, a researcher at BRIN’s Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, said the findings reaffirm Indonesia’s status as one of the global centers of Rafflesia diversity, alongside the Philippines. Sixteen species are currently known in Indonesia, and BRIN has collected DNA samples for 13 of them.

“This project helps us understand the genetic relationships among Rafflesia species and strengthens conservation efforts in their natural habitats,” Joko said in an interview on Sunday.

Unlike earlier studies that analyzed only small portions of Rafflesia DNA, the ongoing research uses whole genome sequencing (WGS), mapping millions of base pairs to build the most complete genetic profile of the plant to date.

“This method allows us to detect potentially new species in Indonesia,” Joko said. “Significant differences in genome data could indicate undiscovered Rafflesia types, this will be our next focus.”

The project is carried out simultaneously in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Joko stressed that all Indonesian specimens remain in-country, with no genetic material transferred abroad.

Rare Blooms Found in Community-Managed Forests

One of the project’s most striking discoveries occurred during a joint field survey in Bengkulu and West Sumatra. In Sijunjung, West Sumatra, researchers documented a blooming Rafflesia hasseltii in a forest managed not as a conservation area but by local communities through a village forest management institution.

“Many Rafflesia populations live outside protected areas, sometimes in coffee and palm plantations,” Joko said. “This highlights the urgency of community-based conservation. Without proper education, these populations are at real risk.”

A video showing a local activist, Septian Riki, moved to tears after seeing a blooming Rafflesia hasseltii for the first time went viral on social media, drawing public attention to the species’ fragile habitat.

Rafflesia is notoriously difficult to study. The plant is a holoparasite, has no leaves or stems, and its enormous flowers bloom for only a few days. Many species grow in remote, hard-to-access forests. The University of Oxford described Rafflesia hasseltii as “a plant seen more by tigers than people."

“Finding a bloom or even a developing bud requires accurate information from local communities,” Joko said. “Without it, field expeditions often fail.”

At the end of the project, BRIN will produce a policy paper recommending national conservation strategies based on genetic and ecological findings.

Simultaneous Blooms Draw Visitors in Bengkulu

In a separate development, two Rafflesia arnoldii flowers bloomed simultaneously in Selamat Sudiarjo village in Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, according to the local Rare Plant Care Group (KPPL). A third bud is expected to bloom in the coming weeks.

“This habitat is very healthy and productive,” said KPPL head Tedi Riski. The site,located roughly 25 kilometers from Curup, can be accessed by motorbike or car, followed by a short trek. Visitors must exercise caution due to steep slopes and numerous fragile buds surrounding the blooms.

Local leader Saikul Latief said the village has at least seven active Rafflesia habitats, making it one of the most consistent blooming locations in Bengkulu since 2019. The area has already attracted visitors from the United Kingdom, Russia, India, China, and the Philippines.

“With proper management, this could be a major ecotourism attraction,” Saikul said. “Many foreigners travel long distances to witness these rare flowers. It would be a missed opportunity if local authorities fail to develop the site.”

BRIN said the project not only expands scientific understanding of Rafflesia but also enhances Indonesia’s role in global biodiversity research. The agency hopes the work will pave the way for Indonesia to become a regional center for Rafflesia conservation and genomics.