New research published on Wednesday revealed that the majority of species of the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia flower, which has long captivated people's attention with its massive speckled red petals, are now on the brink of extinction.
Rafflesia, a parasite that inhabits tropical vines in regions of Southeast Asia, produces some of the biggest flowers in the world.
With its flowers blooming inexplicably, it is somewhat mysterious, and botanists have only had sporadic success spreading it outside of its natural habitat.
One species of the flower is currently classed as "critically endangered", according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
A group of botanists analysed 42 Rafflesia species and their habitats in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand to understand the plant's conservation status.
Based on the rapid disappearance of its forest habitats, as well as insufficient conservation strategies and protection plans, the plant is at far greater risk than previously known, they said.
"We estimate that 60 per cent of Rafflesia species face a severe risk of extinction," the researchers wrote in the study, published Wednesday in the peer-reviewed Plants, People, Planet journal.
Some species risk going extinct before they are even known to science, the study said, urging more research into the unusual plant, according to AFP.
