Largest flower to bloom anew in Bukidnon - PIA

by Peri Madridano

Cagayan de Oro City (12 March) -- The rare and endangered rafflesia (Rafflesia shadenbergiana) which was rediscovered at Sitio Kalanganan, San Vicente, Bukidnon is set to give another bloom this month.

This is the 6th or 7th bloom since its rediscovery in 2007. The flower of Rafflesia schadenbergiana has a diameter of about 80 centimeters or 31 inches. It is considered as the second largest rafflesia species in the world and the largest in the Philippines.

Rafflesia schadenbergiana is a species of Rafflesia found only in the Philippines. It was first discovered in 1882 in Mt. Parag adjacent to Mt. Apo by Dr. Alexander Schadenberg, a German ethnologist who made several explorations in the Philippines. Following its rediscovery in 1882, there were no other recorded sightings of this species.

For more than a century, it was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2007 in the mountain slopes of the Baungon town, Bukidnon in Mindanao.

Rafflesia is listed as critically endangered under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2007-01.

As such, the DENR and the local government of Baungon is working on the establishment of the area where the rafflesia population was found as critical habitat pursuant to Section 25 of RA 9147 otherwise known as Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. (PAWD/RPAO)