Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesian conservation officials have confirmed the rare rediscovery of Rafflesia zollingeriana flowers in the forests of Banyuwangi, East Java. The discovery marks a significant development for this endangered and little-known species, endemic only to the island of Java.
The discovery of Rafflesia zollingeriana was described by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) as a “living miracle”.
“A miracle lives on, almost hidden from public view. Amid dense undergrowth and towering forest canopies, this rare species that endemic to the island of Java has once again revealed its astonishing presence,” the agency wrote in a statement published on its official website.
This giant parasitic flower was found during an April 23, 2025 expedition conducted by the KSDA Banyuwangi Region team and researchers from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) inside the thick forest at the base of Mount Ijen.
During the expedition, at least 36 locations of Rafflesia zollingeriana were recorded between the villages of Sumber Nanas and Papring in Banyuwangi’s Kalipuro District. At each site, researchers found between two and dozens of flower buds in various stages of development, with several expected to bloom within days.
According to Kumparan, the flower’s presence in Banyuwangi was first brought to light in 2022, when a local resident realized that a peculiar bud once harvested by locals as traditional herbal medicine, belonged to a rare species. Since then, the local residents have dedicated themselves to protecting the forest habitat of Rafflesia zollingeriana.
Read Also:
Scientists Discover New Gecko Species in Indonesia, Named After Local Cuisine!
Rafflesia zollingeriana is a lesser-known relative of the more famous Rafflesia arnoldii. Despite its striking appearance, it is infamous for its pungent odor often compared to rotting flesh, used to attract pollinating insects.
Unlike other plants, Rafflesia species has no stems, leaves, or roots, and only appears when in bud or full bloom. Rafflesia zollingeriana live entirely as a parasitic plant that depends on a specific host vine to grow. This dependency makes their survival extremely fragile and tied closely to the health of their forest ecosystems.
Therefore, the discovery of Rafflesia zollingeriana colony spots in Banyuwangi strengthens the region’s role as a key natural habitat for the Rafflesia flowers species, which remains critically understudied and vulnerable.
(Raidi/Agung)
