"A biologist has shared the heartwarming moment he found one of the rarest flowers in the world, breaking down in tears over the discovery. Dr Chris Thorogood, associate professor of biology at the University of Oxford, had trekked day and night through the jungle to hunt for the incredibly rare Rafflesia hasseltii. These elusive plants only grow in the tiger-patrolled jungles of West Sumatra, Indonesia and bloom for only a few days."
"However, as Dr Thorogood revealed in a video, the emotional occasion proved to be too much for some of the assembled scientists. Incredibly, the researchers had stumbled upon the exact moment that the flower finally opened after nine months of development. As Dr Thorogood filmed, local conservationist and guide Septian Andriki broke down and wept at the sight of the rare flower."
"'It's okay, we did it!', Dr Thorogood says as he tries to comfort the crying biologist. 'We found it, we found it, my friend.' Rafflesia are a family of plants that are capable of growing the world's largest flowers. This includes the enormous Rafflesia arnoldi, which produces flowers measuring one metre (three feet) across and weighing up to 11 kilograms (24 lbs)."
Dr Chris Thorogood trekked day and night through West Sumatran jungle to locate the rare Rafflesia hasseltii. The plants grow only in tiger-patrolled rainforests and bloom for only a few days. Researchers recorded the exact moment one flower opened after nine months of development. Local conservationist Septian Andriki and other guides wept at the sight while Dr Thorogood comforted them. Rafflesia species can produce the world's largest flowers, including Rafflesia arnoldi which can reach one metre across and weigh up to 11 kilograms. The flowers emit a strong rotting-meat stench to attract flies and beetles for pollination. Rafflesia hasseltii, known locally as Cendawan Muca Rimau, grows in a remote area requiring a special permit and is seen by more tigers than humans.
Read at Mail Online
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