The Keithii Rafflesia flower found in the rubber plantation at Kampung Maatob, Tenom.
TENOM: The Sabah Agriculture Park here has confirmed that the Rafflesia flower that grows in the rubber plantation owned by villagers of Kampung Maatob adjacent to Kampung Kaalang, about seven kilometres from, here is the Keithii Rafflesia flower.
Its research officer (botany), Jain Linton, said the flower is one of three species of the Rafflesia flower in this state and grows in the lowlands taking about nine months to bloom with the flower wilting within four to five days after blooming.
“This flower can grow up to one metre in diameter. It is named after Henry (Harry) George Keith, former Forest Conservator in North Borneo (now Sabah),” he said when contacted here yesterday.
Jain said the Rafflesia flower is very difficult to find and advised those who come across the flower to only share their find on the social media sites and not destroy it, as it can indirectly attract many tourists and researchers to see the flower more closely.