Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Latest Rafflesia bloom a hit at Sabah Agricultural Park

NEW BLOOM… Rauji with the latest Rafflesia bloom
Picture courtesy of and copyright to New Sabah Times


By MARUTIN ANSIUNG

TENOM: The blooming of a Rafflesia flower at Sabah Agricultural Park last Sunday has got many people excited.

Many are heading to the park to see the world’s largest flower before it withers.

The park assistant supervisor Rauji Baluga said the latest bloom was the third of a Rafflesia recorded in the park.

“We are delighted with the latest bloom as it will definitely attract more visitors,” he said adding that the first recorded Rafflesia bloom in the park was in November last year while the last one was in July this year.

Rauji said that this particular Rafflesia species were suitable for low land and they were planted in the park in 1994.

“This goes to show that our efforts were not wasted in introducing Rafflesia to the park,” he said.

A French tourist who happened to be visiting the park yesterday said she heard about the park but did not realized that she would get to see a Rafflesia flower again.

The park also has an orchid garden containing about 400 species and many exotic and rare plants.

Courtesy of New Sabah Times

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