Rare Twin Bloom of Rafflesia Captivates Visitors in Palupuh
- 09 Mei 2026 16:56 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- Two Rafflesia arnoldii flowers bloomed simultaneously in the Palupuh Forest, attracting dozens of tourists from France and the Netherlands.
- The rare spectacle occurred within the Batang Palupuh Nature Reserve, a 3.4-hectare zone dedicated to protecting rare flora.
- The area serves as a major biodiversity hotspot, having seen six Rafflesia blooms since the beginning of January.
RRI.CO.ID, Lubuk Basung - A rare natural spectacle unfolded in Palupuh Forest, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, where two Rafflesia arnoldii flowers bloomed perfectly at the same time, drawing both local and international attention.
Local tourism activist Joni Hartono said the blooms appeared on the third and seventh day, with one already beginning to darken and expected to wilt soon. The two flowers, located about 50 meters apart, have become a magnet for travelers, including groups from the Netherlands and France.
“Around 40 foreign tourists came to see the two rafflesia blossoms,” Joni noted on Saturday, May 9, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
The Palupuh forest remains a hotspot for rare flora, with several unopened buds expected to bloom in the coming weeks. Since January, six rafflesia flowers have blossomed in the area.
According to Ade Putra, Head of Conservation Resort Region II Maninjau at the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Palupuh is also home to other unique species such as Rhizanthes and the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum). “Rafflesia blooms almost every year in this location,” he said.
Palupuh hosts the Batang Palupuh Nature Reserve, a 3.4-hectare conservation zone dedicated to protecting rare plants, particularly Rafflesia arnoldii. The site was first identified in 1930 and later designated as a nature reserve by the Dutch colonial government through Governor’s Decree No. 3 STBL No. 402 on November 14, 1930. ***
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