RAFFLESIA, THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOWER

. Mindanao. I have vaguely heard of Rafflesia, the world's largest flower. Something about a giant parasitic flower that was actually a rotting flesh smelling plant that attracted flies once a year. Moreover, I learned that it is only inhabited in Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo. In fact, Rafflesia schadenbergiana is not only a rare flower that blooms anywhere in the world, but it is also the rarest flower in the Philippines. After a previous attempt to see the flower I was lucky enough to get a call on Christmas Eve letting me know the rafflesia was in bloom. It was open only to scientific researchers. So we piled into a jeep full of scientists, journalists and my dubious media research ID and headed south to Baungon, Bukidnon. My previous visit had led me to befriend the local caretaker ladies and the army platoon captain stationed there.

Sadly this time the captain was not around so the rest of the military didn't know what to do with me and my camera. After approval from the mayor, we took the misty wet road into the surrounding forest. One section was beautifully decorated by the curators. Flowers bloomed around the corner. Rafflesia schadenbergiana. The bright red and white spots were the most sticky things, accommodated by the circular pit in the center. It's actually a plant, not a flower, but that's what the moniker gives it. At 23.6 inches in diameter, the pellet didn't make it the largest ever. It was often located near an overflowing river and thus hindered its growth. The end of one slice was already showing signs of wilting. It is really surprising to one to see how short its blooming period is when it turns black. Houseflies congregated in its almost illuminated center. It is attracted by the smell of rotting flesh it produces. The plant is actually a parasite. Living, of all things, is a vein. Veins hanging from another tree. It was difficult to follow the ebb and flow of the planets in the thick jungle light of a rainy day. But I saw a new leaf taking hold of the wet earth. People gathered around, took photos, videos, took measurements and took a long time to enjoy it. The smell is not that poisonous, but it definitely smells like rotting flesh. Something that attracts flies that help with pollination. One of the caretakers was kind enough to show me another Rafflesia nearby. A brown bulb on a stem that had 6 months left to bloom on an annual. The good news is that the Rafflesia schadenbergiana seemed to be growing well. When the group left, I sat alone and managed to grab a few more shots of the flower. It may seem strange, but 99% of all shots of this plant are seen with a smiling person on top of it, so the smell is not enough. To me, the Philippines seems to be surrounded by nature, the Rafflesia, a rare treasure that blooms once a year.

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