First-on-record Rafflesia species found in Sabah

Nature’s glory: Research assistant Jeisin Jumian next to the rare ‘Rafflesia keithii’ discovered in the Silabukan Forest Reserve.

KOTA KINABALU: A rare species of the Rafflesia parasitic flowering plant called the Rafflesia keithii has been found in the Silabukan forest reserve, some 50km east of Sabah’s eastern Lahad Datu district.

A 14-member team from the state Forestry Department was conducting forest inventory when they stumbled upon the plant in full bloom recently.