Rare ‘corpse flower’ discovered in Apayao

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A rare “corpse flower” has been found thriving in the forest of Calanasan town in Apayao on Tuesday.

The discovery came amid the observance of World Wildlife Day.

The municipal environment and natural resources office and the local tourism office confirmed the discovery of Rafflesia lagascae, a small, saucer-sized parasitic flower endemic to Luzon and known for its foul smell.

The local government said the flower was discovered by foresters who were patrolling the woods in Barangay Eva.

Unlike other species of Rafflesia, the lagascae has smaller flowers whose survival depends on undisturbed forest and host vines.

“A rare bloom in the forest reminds us that conservation is not optional, it is a responsibility,” local environment officials said as they called for protection of the town’s forests.

Earlier,  another new plant species was discovered in the same forest, which is known as a nesting site for the Philippine Eagle, and part of the core zone of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

The species, named Medinilla calanasan, was formally inscribed in the international journal Phytotaxa last month.

The Medinilla calanasan is unique among the Southeast Asian Medinilla species for having a pair of small, horn-like protrusions at the base of each leaf blade.