Rediscovery Rafflesia spp

Rafflesia Zollingeriana bloom

2009-05-31T03:07:00.000-07:00

Know as Rafflesia patma in bahasa, Rafflesia Zollingeriana have record by my friend Febrina Ariyanti. She make photo close up when Rafflesia Zollingeriana bloom last month.

I am very surprised and appreciated with Febrina to share this photo due Rafflesia Zollingeriana photo close up very rare to publish.

Rafflesia Zollingeriana bloom at cagar alam pananjung pangandaran

Febrina with her Rafflesia Zollingeriana

Febrina with Rafflesia Zollingeriana knop

Rafflesia Zollingeriana knop

Rafflesia schadenbegiana

2008-07-06T02:01:00.000-07:00

World's largest flower -- Rafflesia schadenbegiana was recently discovered in a CBFM area at Sitio Kalanganan, Barangay San Vicente, Baungon, Bukidnon. This is the only population of Rafflesia schadenbegiana that is currently flowering. The species was last seen in 1882 in Mt. Apo and was believed to be extinct until its recent find. The genus Rafflesia holds the record as the world’s largest flowers measuring as wide as 1 meter. It only flowers for 5 to 6 days at most before the petals blacken and flower withers. The odor is likened to rotting meat and attracts bluebottle flies for pollination. (PAWD/RPAO-10)

Source :
http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=1&t=3&fi=070814-r10-rafflesia.jpg&mo=0708

Rafflesia baletei, another new Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from the Philippines

2008-04-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

Julie F. Barcelona
Philippine National Herbarium (PNH), National Museum of the Philippines
Tanggal: 00/05/2007
Mary Ann O.Cajano, Annalee S.Hadsall

A new species of Rafflesia, R. baletei, from Mt Isarog in the Bicol Region . Southern Luzon, Philippines is described. Rafflesia baletei is the fith endemic species and the second of the small-sizedspecies of the genus in the Phillippines to have been described so far.It differsfrom the presumably closely related R.tengku-adlinii from Borneo in flower colour and size, perigone ornamentations, and number anthers. Furthermore,it differsfrom the similary-sized R.manillana from the Philippines in diaphragm and ramenta morphology and ornamentations, and flower habit.

Publisher	:	Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Source	:	Kew Bulletin. ISBN: 1-84246-154-0
Series	:	Vol. 61(2), 2006 : p.231 -237

http://digilib.biologi.lipi.go.id/view.html?idm=30289

Rafflesia Arnoldi

2008-04-24T04:53:00.001-07:00

Kompas/Achmad Zulkani

Bunga Rafflesia arnoldi yang mekar di Bengkulu

http://www2.kompas.com/ver1/Iptek/0712/30/185427.htm

Seeing in Rafflesia Arnoldi

2008-04-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

Posted by Taneak Jang Tanah Rejang Rejang Land

by adriansyah - last update: Aug 30, 2007
The World's Largest Flower - Rafflesia Arnoldi

Rafflesia Arnoldi grows in Taba Penanjung Bengkulu

Rainforests of Bengkulu province are home to both the world's largest flower Rafflesia Arnoldi and the world's tallest flower, known locally as Kibut or bunga Bangkai (Amorphophalus Titanum). There are 16 species of Rafflesia, Rafflesia Arnoldi is the largest. It is a member of the genus Rafflesia. Its flower attains a diameter of nearly a meter (3 ft) can weight up to 7 kg (15.5 pounds).

My son & I are in front of the Rafflesia

Rafflesia Arnoldi
The Rafflesia Arnoldi which is known locally as bunga Rafflesia (Rafflesia flower) is one of the plants which are protected by law in Indonesia. It is a really rare and a unique plant. It is usually reddish-brown and lives as a parasite on the Tetra stigma vine, as its host. Its petals grow to 50 cm (1.6 feet) long and 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick. The unique of the Rafflesia is it has no observable root or stem, and no leaves. It is a parasitic plant since it has no chlorophyll and haustorium. Nutrients and water are obtained from host cell. This bizarre flower is pollinated by flies attracted by its scent. The buds take many months to develop. It stays in bloom up to 14 days and can be seen during wet season between August - November. This sensitive parasitic plant grows only once a year in primary undisturbed rainforest.

Two American tourists and a local guide's baby

Historical Background of the Rafflesia
The Rafflesia Arnoldi was discovered by British Lieutenant which was appointed as Governor of Bencoolen (as British people called Bengkulu in the old time) Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and British government botanist Dr. Arnold in the year of their arrival (May 1818), in Lubuk Tapi – South Bengkulu, hence the plant’s botanical name. It is now known as the official symbol of Bengkulu province.

The Rafflesia bud which takes many months to build

Where the Rafflesia can be found in Bengkulu?
The Rafflesia, the world's largest flower is found in many areas in the forests of Bengkulu province, normally in Taba Penanjung (45 km or 28 miles from Bengkulu town center) on the slopes of the Bukit Barisan Mountains, the most accessible being close to the main road halfway between Bengkulu and Curup. The Rafflesia also might be found in several locations in Bengkulu province:

1.Pagar Gunung in Sub-District Kepahiyang.

2.Talang Ulu, Curup, Rejang Lebong.

3.Suban hot spring, Curup, Rejang Lebong.

4.Taba Rena, Curup, Rejang Lebong.

5.Lubuk Tapi, South bengkulu.

6.Talang Tais, Padang Guci, South Bengkulu.

Jungle track to see in the Rafflesia

Get info about the Rafflesia in Bengkulu
Hope that all info as write above helps you to see in the Rafflesia. Write me at kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com if you want me to inform you when the Rafflesia is blooming, so you can arrange your trip to Bengkulu and don't miss it guys. I'd be glad to write back and inform you. Peace,Adrian

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/95d49/#TL

the giant rafflesia flower

2008-04-07T05:02:00.000-07:00

Taken On: 2004:01:07 03:51:29 Cameron highlands

http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/andreaemn/Malaysia/?action=view&current=100_3867.jpg

Rafflesias from www.flickr.com

2008-04-05T04:15:00.000-07:00

View Morland Smith's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

A huge Rafflesia flower, the largest flower in the world, about 1 metre across

View borichar's map

Taken in Sabah, MY (See more photos here)

5°29' 05" N, 116°58' 57" E

The world's largest flower, called Rafflesia, can have a diameter up to one metre and can weigh up to 10 kilograms. It also smells like rotting flesh. We saw and photographed this specimen in a private garden in Sabah, Borneo, the householder charging people to view it. Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that lacks roots, stems, and leaves.

View radek.sedlacik's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Our guide to see rafflesia flower :-)

with the giant flower Rafflesia keithii

View robertyeoh's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

World largest flower found in gading hill forest. It took 9 months to bloom and only lasts 7 days only. Very rare and i am lucky to see this wonders.
All rights reserved.

Rafflesia flower, Pulau Tioman

View Minx_NZ's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Rafflesia flower, Borneo

View The Black Azar's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

the biggest bloom in the world. this one was 75 cm - they can grow to 1 metre. it did have a faint odour of rot, though this is not the corpse plant (that's also from here, much taller, not so wide, only blooms once every three years or so). (from sumatra)

largest flower in the world (Thailand) bua phut

Rafflesia Pricei Flower

View mysticalangel's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

View mysticalangel's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

View mysticalangel's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

The Rafflesia , the largest flower in the world can be found in East Malaysia. Stumbled

View mu5e's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

The hike along the steep slope was totally worthwhile. It takes 9 months for the little buds to mature into a flower.

2003-63-36 malaysia

Rafflesia keithii, peeking inside the giant flower

View Diana and Sjoerd's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)This one is one day old... they usually die in a couple of days

This one is one day old... they usually die in a couple of days (Sabah)

View Diana and Sjoerd's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

The largest flowers can be up to 1 meter in diameter and weigh up to 10kg!

View jenni_wilson's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Rafflesia flower

View w7's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

The Rafflesia. This very large flower measures approximately 800 mm across.

View K i n o b i c k's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

The largest flower in the world. It blooms for only seven days before it withers and dies.

View kopibrian's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

hmm... biggest flower in M'sia

View travelbum_07's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

largest flowering plant in the world kk kokob borneo march 07

Rafflesia cantleyi

2008-04-05T04:09:00.000-07:00

My latest trek to see the Rafflesia cantleyi in Ulu Geroh gave me an opportunity to photograph the various stages of this beautiful and fascinating flower - from bud to decline. My finger/hand had been placed near to the flower for size comparison. And in case there are some over enthusiastic people out there who may be getting ready to bombard me with their "holier-than-thou" attitudes, at no time did my finger or hand touch the flower.

This is the bud-stage. It takes 9 months to journey from bud to bloom.

A bigger bud.

Almost ready to bloom.

The beautiful flower.

Size comparison.

The beautiful Rafflesia cantleyi.

This is what the inside of the Rafflesia looks like.

The Rafflesia, as seen from the trek.

The bloom starts to wither after 3 - 4 days. This is the sad decline.

http://hawkspy.blogspot.com/2008/01/rafflesia-cantleyi.html

Largest Flower - Rafflesia

2008-04-05T04:06:00.001-07:00

Largest Flower - Rafflesia

Rafflesia is the world's largest, the heaviest, the rarest and the one of the most stinkiest flowers in the world. It grows to 1 metre wide and weighs about 10 kgs.

Rafflesia, a native of rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesian Archipelago, is the largest flower in the world. Interestingly, Rafflesia is a parasitic plant without any leaves, stems and roots (It has only nutrient-absorbing threads to absorb nutrients from the host on which it lives) but for the largest flower.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rafflesiales
Family: Rafflesiaceae
Genus: Rafflesia
Species: R. arnoldii

Rafflesia is a huge speckled five-petaled flower with a diameter up to 106 cm, and weighing up to 10 kg. Rafflesia flower has a small life of 5-7 days. Rafflesias have their stamens and pistils fused together in a central column, producing a corona, or crown, in the shape of a ring. The reddish brown colors of the petals, are sprinkled with white freckles. The smell attracts the carrion flies and then pollination occurs. After 9 months of maturation, Rafflesia plant opens into a cabbage-sized bud. The sexual organs are located beneath the rim of the disk.

Facts About Rafflesia

Rafflesia is the largest individual flower. Titan arum bears the largest inflorescence.
Rafflesia is a parasite which attaches itself to a host plant, Tetrastigma vine, which grows only in undisturbed rainforests, to obtain water and nutrients.
The genus Rafflesia is named after adventurer and founder of the British colony of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles.
Dr Arnold is remembered in the species name as Rafflesia arnoldii.
Rafflesia is the official state flower of Sabah in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province, Thailand.
Rafflesia manillana, the smallest species in the genus Rafflesia is also has 20 cm diameter flowers.
Rafflesia flowers are unisexual.
Forest mammals and tree shrews feed on Rafflesia fruit which is 15cm in diameter, filled with smooth flesh and thousands of tiny hard coated seeds.
It is believed that rafflesia is related to poinsettias, violets, passionflowers, and other members of the order Malpighiales.
The rotten smell of the flower is due to the reddish tentacle-like, branched ramentae, inside the corolla of petals.
Rafflesia is an endangered or threatened genus.
Rafflesia arnoldii does not have chlorophyll, as all the green plants have and so it cannot undergo photosynthesis.

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/largest-flower

Southern Thailand 2007/08

2008-04-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

View SqueakyMarmot's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

With a local guide, we hiked up a hill through a jungle in Khao Sok National Park to view the Rafflesia Flower.

View SqueakyMarmot's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

With a local guide, we hiked up a hill through a jungle in Khao Sok National Park to view the Rafflesia Flower.

View SqueakyMarmot's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

With a local guide, we hiked up a hill through a jungle in Khao Sok National Park to view the Rafflesia Flower.

View SqueakyMarmot's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

With a local guide, we hiked up a hill through a jungle in Khao Sok National Park to view the Rafflesia Flower.

View SqueakyMarmot's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

With a local guide, we hiked up a hill through a jungle in Khao Sok National Park to view the Rafflesia Flower.

View SqueakyMarmot's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Supposedly, it is one of the largest flowers in the world and only blooms for 5-6 days each year.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeakymarmot/sets/72157604040020246/

Rafflesia Flower Jungle Trekking Adventure

2008-04-05T03:54:00.000-07:00

Overview

The mysterious Rafflesia bloom has always fascinated intrepid adventurers. Now, one can enjoy some pure tropical serenity - expedition style - under steadfast guidance and insider account by our English-speaking naturalist and watchful Semai native guides to see the famed Rafflesia.

The Rafflesia is the only plant that has the capability to “play dead”. For higher chances of pollination, the Rafflesia’s clumpy and waxy red petals bear uncanny resemblance to decaying dead animal. This hoodwinks flies and insects to gather at its ovum and fly away with spores. The Rafflesia flower is known as Bunga Pakma by locals; Bunga is flower in Malay, and Pakma is derived from ancient language Sanskrit for lotus – a symbol for purity and fertility. The flowers are traditionally used after childbirth to aid shrinking of womb and restore female figure.

http://malaysiaupclose.wordpress.com/2007/11/24/rafflesia-flower-jungle-trekking-adventure/

Sapria himalayana

2008-04-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

Past the prime stage

Like this one to be photographed

this was probably one week old. It was too dry then

the habitat

Read the signboard!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmatsalleh/sets/72157601067498736/

Sapria ram Baenziger&Hansen, Thailand

2008-04-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

View love_travel17's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

It is call "Kra Tonn Pra Ram" in Thai (Sapria ram Baenziger&Hansen

View love_travel17's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

They are strong like a stone!!

Finally, we found the abbreviated flowers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22172793@N07/

Sapria polainei, Cambodia

2008-04-01T00:55:00.000-07:00

Sapria polainei, a small member of the Rafflesiaceae from the Mount Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia.

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, Maliau Basin Conservation Area

2008-04-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

View FBMagpie's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, Maliau Basin Conservation Area

View FBMagpie's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, Maliau Basin Conservation Area

View FBMagpie's map

Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, Maliau Basin Conservation Area

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/tengkuadlinii/

Evan with his Rafflesia Arnoldii from Bengkulu

2008-03-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

evan with his rafflesia at Tabah Penanjung 20 december 2007, North Bengkulu

http://www.friendster.com/photos/8217899/1/477206542

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii Mat Salleh

2008-03-30T22:54:00.001-07:00

This species was discovered in 1987 on Mount Trus Madi, Sabah, Malaysia. The species is named after Tengku D. Z. Adlin, president of the Sabah Society and conservationist.

Photograph by Tengku D. Z. Adlin. Reproduced from Kamarudin Mat Salleh (1991) "Rafflesia: Magnificient Flower of Sabah, Borneo Publishing Co., Kota Kinabalu).

SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Rafflesiaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.tengku.page.html
Last updated: 19-Oct-05 / dln

Prof. Dr. Kamarudin Mat-Salleh

2008-03-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Prof. Dr. Kamarudin Mat-Salleh

Profesor Taksonomi dan Sistematik Tumbuhan

Di lahirkan di Tanah Merah,Kelantan pada 17 April 1959, Prof Dr Kamarudin memdapat pendidikan asas di SekolahKebangsaan Tanah Merah (1966-1972) dan Sekolah Menengah Tanah Merah (1973-1974), sebelum dihantar ke Sekolah Menengah Sains Kelantan, Pengkalan Chepa (sekarang SekMen Sains Faris Petra)(1975-1976) dan Sekolah Menengah Alam Shah (1977).Mendapat ijazah SmSn Kep. (Botani) dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, KualaLumpur (1982), M.Sc: dalam bidang taksonomi tumbuhan dariUniversity of Aberdeen, Scotland (1985) dan Ph.D di dalam Botani Sistematikdari Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (1992), beliau merupakansalah seorang pakar taksonomi dan sistematik tumbuhan di Asia Tenggara danmenjadi pakar kepada taksonomi dan biologi Rafflesia,bunga terbesar didunia. Beliau merupakan ketua ekspedisi ke Trus Madi Sabahpada tahun 1989 dimana penemuan spesies baru Rafflesia telah direkodkan danbertanggung jawab sebagai autoriti spesies yang dinamakan Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, spesies Rafflesia yang pertama dinamakansebagai penghormatan kepada pembesar tempatan. Beliau juga merupakan bekasPengerusi JK Penyelidikan dan Pemuliharaan Rafflesia Sabah diakhir 1990an yangtelah menjadi tulang belakang kepada promosi Rafflesia sebagai simboleko-pelancongan dan pemuliharaan sehingga ia menjadi terkenal pada hari ini.Buku beliau Magnificent Rafflesia ofSabah adalah buku pertama mengenai Rafflesiayang pernah diterbitkan.

Dengan kepakaran beliau tentang Rafflesia, Prof Kamarudin selalu dijemput untuk menjalankankerjalapangan dan memberikan pandangan mengenai penerbitan spesies baru Rafflesia di Filipina, Thailand danIndonesia. Makmal penyelidikan Taksonomi dan Sistematik Tumbuhan di PusatPengajian Sains Sekitaran dan Sumber Alam UKM mempunyai ramai pelajar dari AsiaTenggara yang menjalankan kajian tumbuhan Malesia. Pada tahun 2006, beliau danpelajar beliau telah menerbitkan satu lagi spesies baru yang dinamakan Rafflesia bengkuluensis dari Sumatera dan satu lagi spesies akan diperkenalkan dari Aceh. Beliau juga sedang menyediakanPelanPengurusan dan Pemuliharaan Rafflesia di Semenanjng Malaysia dan SemakanPerundangan mengenai Perlindungan Rafflesia di Malaysia yang diminta oleh Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia. Pada masa ini Prof Kamarudin jugamenjadi peneraju kepada weblog Rafflesia-in-Bloom yang menjadisumber rujukan kepada penggemar Rafflesia di Asia Tenggara. tahun 2006.

Selain dari Rafflesia, ProfKamarudin juga menjadi pakar kepada famili Annonaceae atau Mempisang dan telahmenerbitkan banyak makalah dan monograf. Famili ini merupakan salah satu famili tumbuhanyang penting. Pada akhir tahun 1990an beliau juga menjadi pengelola kepadapengkalan-pengkalan data tumbuhan di Malaysia di dalam portal MalaysiaBiodiversity Online. Ini termasuklah Turner’s Checklist of Vascular Plants of the MalayPeninsular, Burkill’s Dictionary dan Integrated Checklist of Malaysia Plants.Atas kepakaran ini, beliau telah diminta oleh MOSTI (pada masa itu MOSTE) untukmenyediakan buku Tumbuhan Ubatan Malaysia yangtelah mengumpulkan maklumat kesemua 916 spesies tumbuhan bernilai ubatan diMalaysia dan berjaya diterbitkan pada tahun 2002. Beliau juga menjadi perundingtaksonomi kepada penerbitan 2002 spesies di dalam buku Compendium of Medicinal Plants Usedin Malaysia terbitan Instutute of Medical Research.

Prof Kamarudin telah menjalankan kajian di dalam 21program penyelidikan di UKM, di mana beliau menjadi ketua kepada 8 daripadaprogram tersebut. Beliau juga telah 13 pelajar siswazah dan 62 tesis pelajar pra-siswazah.Setakat ini beliau telah menerbitkan 5 buku, 17 bab dalam buku, 33 kertaspenyelidikan di dalam jurnal, 70 kerta kerja teknikal mengenai sistematikAnnonaceae, Simaroubaceae, dan Rafflesia; etnobotani dan flora tumbuhan ubatanMalaysia, informatik biodiversiti dan pemuliharaan tumbuhan Malesia.

http://kms.drkms.com/index.php?pr=Siapa_Pakdin

Stamp from Indonesia

2008-03-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

SERI LINGKUNGAN HIDUP TAHUN 1993

PATMA RAKSASA sebagai PUSPA LANGKA
Nama latin : Rafflesia arnoldi

Ditemukan oleh rombongan Sir Thomas Stamfort Raffles (Gubernur East India Company di Sumatera dan Jawa) dan Dr. Joseph Arnord, seorang naturalis yang mengadakan ekspedis di Bengkulu pada tanggal 20 Mei 1818. kedua naman tersebut diabadikan menjadi nama latin bunga ini oleh Robert Brown.

Bunga terbesar di dunia dan sebagai tumbuhan asli Indonesia, ini termasuk kategori langka, hanya dapat dijumpai di Sumatera dan Kalimantan. Keunikan tumbuhannya adalah hanya merupakan miselium yang memparasit tumbuhan inang, tidak berdaun tetapi dapat menghasilkan bunga berukuran sangat besar. Penyebarannya yang sangat terbatas terdapat jumlah yang sedikit dan jarang dijumpai, maka Patma Raksasa digolongkan dalam status rawan (Vulnerable).

Dengan memilih tumbuhan ini sebagai PUSPA LANGKA, diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kepedulian masyarakat untuk dapat menjaga kelestariannya.

Bunga berumah dua (bunga jantan dan betina terpisah), berdiameter mencapai 100 cm, berwarna merah coklat dan kasar permukaannya, kuncup yang berukuran kurang lebih 5 cm. Memerlukan waktu sekitar 9 bulan untuk mekar. Masa mekarnya hanya 4 hari, dan setelah diserbuki oleh serangga, diperlukan waktu kira-kira 7 bulan untuk menjadi buah. Buah yang terbentuk akan berisi ribuan biji-biji berbentuk bulat panjang berukuran kurang dari 0,5 mm.

Patma Raksasa adalah tumbuhan parasit sejati pada batang (akar) tumbuhan inang Tetratigma coriaceum, Cissis serrulata dan Cissus scariosa. Umumnya dijumpai pada batang yang menjalar di permukaan tanah di hutan primer maupun hutan yang agak terganggu pada daerah yang bergelombang maupun lereng dan selalu di bawah naungan di ketinggian 500-1.000 dpl.

Musim berbunganya sepanjang tahun, akan tetapi sangat tergantung dari kondisi lingkungannya.

SERI FLORA FAUNA TAHUN 2002

RAFFLESIA
Nama latin : Rafflesia micropylora

Tumbuhan parasit inang Tetrastigma sp. Muncul di permukaan batang dekat tanah 60 cm dari permukaan tanah. Knop bulat, berukuran 10 – 15 cm. Krem keputihan hingga coklat merah kehitaman. Saat mekar berdiameter 30 – 60 cm, panjang kelopak perhiasan bunga (lobus perigonum) 16 – 18 cm, diameter diaphragma 20 – 25 cm dengan lubang kecil sekitar 3 – 9 cm.

Habitat : hutan primer

Persebaran : daerah Aceh (Sumatera)

http://www.menlh.go.id/PerangkoHLH/PerangkoHLH2002/PerangkoHLH2002-Raflesia.htm

A Contribution to the Life History of the Rare Indonesian Holoparasite Rafflesia patma (Rafflesiaceae)

2008-03-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

A Contribution to the Life History of the Rare Indonesian Holoparasite Rafflesia patma (Rafflesiaceae)¹

Siti N. Hidayati^A, Willem Meijer^B, Jerry M. Baskin^B, and Jeffrey L. Walck^B

A. Universitas Bengkulu, Jl. Raya Kandang Limun, Bengkulu 38371, Indonesia, B. School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, U.S.A.

Abstract

Fates and growth of Rafflesia patma buds and insect visitation to the flowers were monitored in an evergreen tropical rain forest in the Pangandaran Nature Reserve, Java, Indonesia. Of 59 buds marked in December 1985, 44 percent died before flowering, 7 percent flowered, and 49 percent were still in bud in May 1986. Mammals and birds caused the deaths of buds before they reached maturity. Only four buds flowered between December 1985 and May 1986; all were male. Rate of increase in diameter (cm/d) was much faster in large than in small buds. Once opening began, the flower opened fully in 24 to 48 hours; the flower remained open for three to five days before rotting. Only two genera of insects visited a male flower of R. patma: Lucilia and Sarcophaga (Diptera). Insect visitation was highest in the afternoon (1300–1700 h) and on the second or third day after flower opening. The increased number of flies visiting the flower coincided with the increasing odor emitted from it. Results of the present study were combined with information from the literature to construct a life cycle diagram of R. patma.

Zusammenfabung

Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang pertumbuhan dan perkembangan kuncup dan jenis-jenis serangga yang mengunjungi bunga Rafflesia patma di hutan hujan tropik Taman Wisata Pangandaran, Jawa, Indonesia. Dari 59 kuncup yang dijumpai di bulan Desember 1985, 44 persen mati sebelum mekar, 7 persen mekar, dan 49 persen masih berupa kuncup pada akhir penelitian bulan Mei 1986. Mamalia dan burung, adalah penyebab kematian kuncup sebelum mekar. Empat bunga jantan mekar selama penelitian tetapi tidak ditemukan bunga betina yang mekar. Laju pertambahan garis tengah kuncup (cm/d) lebih cepat pada kuncup bergaris tengah besar daripada kuncup yang kecil. Bunga mekar dalam waktu 24–48 jam dan bunga mekar penuh selama 3–5 hari sebelum akhirnya layu. Dua jenis lalat, Lucilia dan Sarcophaga (Diptera) mengunjungi bunga R. patma yang mekar. Frekwensi kunjungan tertingggi adalah pada sore hari (jam 1300–1700), dan puncak kunjungan terjadi pada hari kedua atau ketiga setelah bunga mekar. Jumlah seranggga pengunjung meningkat seiring dengan meningkatnya intensitas bau yang dikeluarkan oleh bunga. Hasil penelitian ini ditambah dengan informasi dari pustaka yang ada digunakan untuk membentuk diagram siklus hidup R. patma.

Keywords: bud fates, bud growth, evergreen rain forest, Java, Indonesia, life cycle, parasitic plant, pollination, Rafflesiaceae, Rafflesia patma, Tetrastigma

DOI: 10.1646/0006-3606(2000)032[0408:ACTTLH]2.0.CO;2

http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1646%2F0006-3606%282000%29032%5B0408%3AACTTLH%5D2.0.CO%3B2

Rafflesia Patma

2008-03-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia Patma

Rafflesia patma mempunyai ukuran diameter bunga bisa mencapai 25 cm lebih. Organ penyusun bunga dari Rafflesia patma tidak jauh dari Rafflesia arnoldii namun ukurannya lebih kecil. Sosok Rafflesia patma sepintas memang mirip dengan Rafflesia yang lain, hanya saja bila diamati lebih teliti mahkota bunganya memiliki warna yang lebih pucat. Saat mekar sempurna diameter bunganya berkisar 20 – 30 cm. Tanda yang khas, yang membedakan dengan Rafflesia rochussenii adalah duri – duri yang terdapat pada diskus.

Rafflesia patma selain tumbuh pada akar inangnya juga tumbuh pada batang inang yang menggantung di atas lantai hutan, tetapi persentase yang tumbuh pada bagian bukan akar sangat kecil dan tumbunya tidak sebaik yang tumbuh di akar inang. Diameter akar inang yang baik untuk ditumbuhi Rafflesia patma berkisar antara 1,1 – 3 cm. Ukuran kuncup Rafflesia patma yang ditemukan di Cagar Alam Leuweung Sancang sangat beragam mulai dari diameter 2 cm sampai 15 cm. Persentase kematian kuncup yang paling banyak terjadi pada diameter <>et al, 1989 ).

Kondisi ekologis Rafflesia patma yang terdapat di Cagar Alam Leuweung Sancang Jawa Barat adalah sebagai berikut : Jenis tanah regosol, kelas tekstur tanah lempung berpasir, konsistensi tanah gembur dengan kelas drainase baik, pH tanah agak masam sampai netral; kandungan C organisk dan Ca sangat tinggi; N total, Mg dan kapasitas tukat kation (KTK) tinggi; P tersedia sangat rendah; K dan Na sedang dan tumbuh pada ketinggian berkisar antara 0 – 35 m dpl dengan jarak dari pantai berkisar antara 5 – 700 m dan kemiringan lahan tidak lebih dari 5 %. Penyerbukan terjadi diduga dengan bantuan lalat, yang mendatangi bagian reoriduksi bunga adalah lalat hijau (Lucillia sp.), lalat biru (Protocalliphora sp). Lalat abu–abu (Sarcophaga sp) dan lalat buah (Drosophila sp). Sedangkan penyebaran biji diduga dilakukan oleh rayap tanah (Macrotermes sp), semut merah besar (Polyergus sp), babi hutan (Sus scroffa Linn), landak (Hystrix brachyura Linn), tupai (Tupaia sp) dan muncak (Muntiacus muntjak Zimm) (Priatna et al., 1989).

Habitat yang sesuai untuk Rafflesia patma adalah daerah antara tipe lautan pantai dengan tipe hutan hujan tropika dataran rendah (ekoton). Asosiasi tingkat pohon terdiri dari : Aleurites moluccana, Tabarmaemontana sphaerocarpa, Neesia altissima, Pongamia pinnata, Dracontomelon mangiferum, Cinnamomun inners, Tarenna incerta, Barringtonia acutangula, Terminalia catappa. Asosiasi vegetasi tingkat belta adalah Tetrastigma sp, Calamus ornatus, Cinnamomun inners, Pterospermum diversifolium dan Dracontomelon mangiferum. Sedangkan asosiasi tingkat semai dan tumbuhan bawah adalah Colomus orantanus, Pipturus repandus dan Tarenna incerta. Penyebaran Rafflesia patma di Cagar Alam Leuweung Sancang secara sporadis meliputi areal yang berdekatan dengan pantai pada tinggi berkisar antara 0 – 35 m dpl dan jarak dari pantai berkisar antara 5 – 700 m kemiringan lahan umumnya diatas atau tidak lebih dari 5 %

Acaman kelestarian yang terjadi pada Rafflesia patma yang terdapat di Cagar Alam Leuweung Sancang adalah terjadinya pemungutan kuncup oleh masyarakat untuk bahan baku jamu (Priatna et al, 1980)

http://www.rafflesia.info/patma.htm

THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONSERVATION OF RAFFLESIA IN MALAYSIA

2008-03-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 19, 2006

THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONSERVATION OF RAFFLESIA IN MALAYSIA

This paper was published recently by PERHILITAN and should be cited as: K. Mat-Salleh, A.H. Mohd-Ros & J. Donna (2006). The Role of Protected Areas in the Conservation of Rafflesia in Malaysia in: Sahir Othman, Siti Hawa Yatim, Sivananthan Ellagupillay, Shukor Md. Nor, Norhayati Ahmad, Shahrul Anuar Mohd. Sah (eds.) Management and Status of resources in protected areas of Peninsular Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Department of Wildlife and National Parks, pp 141-154

Reprinted here for your reading, the formating was off, so the italised species name are printed here unconvensional non-ital.:

THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONSERVATION OF RAFFLESIA IN MALAYSIA

K. Mat-Salleh, A.H. Mohd-Ros & J. Donna
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences,
Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor
E-mail: pakdin@pkrisc.cc.ukm.my
kamarudinmatsalleh@gmail.com

Abstract

Cursed with a smell reminiscent of rotting carcass and labelled the 'stinking corpse lily', Rafflesia, the world's largest flower is being threatened in Malaysia. Notwithstanding, Rafflesia is rapidly becoming a prominent symbol for conservation efforts. Since the first introduction of Rafflesia arnoldii by Robert Brown in 1821, more than 28 species of Rafflesia have been described by various botanists. However, only 20 species are currently recognised. With the latest description of Rafflesia azlanii, the total number of species of rafflesias in Malaysia has been increased to 8, all of them except R. hasselttii are endemics. Although Rafflesia is rare and vulnerable, all 8 species of Malaysian Rafflesia occur in protected areas. Sabah and Sarawak species are probably the least worrying taxa since they are all protected in large tract of national park networks. This is an opposite in Peninsular Malaysia. Most of the species are in the brink of destruction and extinction because they are not, in reality, effectively legally protected. Although known populations of Rafflesia cantleyi and R. azlanii are found in Taman Negara and R. kerrii are found in yet to be gazzeted Gunung Stong State Park in Kelantan, buds of all species are being stripped freely out of these sites. Blooms around the Royal Belum are being destroyed not only by orang asli but also trampled in poorly planned ecotourism schemes. More surveys are being carried out in Taman Negara to map all populations of Rafflesia in this area and Parks authorities should be made aware or their existence. The Rafflesia in Taman Negara should be protected at all cost.

1. Introduction

Rafflesia is rapidly becoming a prominent symbol for conservation efforts. Unlike many well known animals adopted by conservation societies, plants were not be considered awe-inspiring. This has changed in the late 1980?s when impressive Rafflesia species with their gigantic flowers and unique biological features generates substantial interests in south east Asia. Wide publicity on new species emerging from extensive search of new taxa, add pressure to already established ecotourism income throughout its range in Southeast Asia. This has resulted in active conservation efforts in Asia.

Since the first introduction of Rafflesia arnoldii by Robert Brown in 1821, more than 28 species of Rafflesia have been described by various botanists (Table 1). The first major revision was published by Meijer (1984) with a preliminary key to 12 species of Rafflesia, with four species were new to science then. Meijer (1997) later published a detail account of his revision in the Flora Malesiana in which he recognised 13 species, including the new Rafflesia tengku-adlinii which was published a few years earlier by Mat-Salleh & Latiff (1989). Meijer (1997) recognises Rafflesia patma - R. zollingeriana and R. tuan-mudae - R. arnoldii as conspecifics, unpopular disposition that was not regarded as a good decision by later taxonomists (i.e. Zuhud et al. 1998, Nais 2001). Nais (2001) in the latest revision presented in his excellent "Rafflesia of the World" recognised 18 spesies and one variety, inclusive of 3 imperfectly known Bornean species (R. borneensis, R. ciliata and R. witkampi) due to the lack of well-preserved herbarium materials. Very recently, Wong and Gan (2002) reported a new species of Rafflesia from Peninsular Malaysia which was dubbed as Rafflesia ?No. 19?. However, the real 19th species of Rafflesia was published by Barcelona et Fernando (2002) from endemic populations in the Antique region in the Philippines?s Panay Island. Rafflesia no. 19, was later published as Rafflesia azlanii by Latiff & Wong (2004).

Rafflesia species are patchily distributed from the Kra Isthmus in Thailand and south and westwards in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and the Philippine Islands (Mat-Salleh 1991, Nais 2001). Beside biological hiccups for Rafflesia has been known to have high mortality rate, bud-collection for traditional medicines has been of a great problem for some populations of Rafflesia (Ismail et al. 1988, Nais 2001). Thus, Rafflesia is exceedingly rare, and some species may be at the brink of extinction. Conservation of the Rafflesias has been given a high priority. In Indonesia, Rafflesia is protected by law and designated the National Rare Flower. In Malaysia, extensive efforts have been put into monitoring and protecting areas inhabiting Rafflesia species (Ismail et al. 1988, Nais & Wilcock 1998).

Rafflesia has been noted to feature an exceptional diversity in size, floral colour, pattern and distribution. The diameter of the flowers ranges from minute 15 cm (R. manillana, R. rochussenii) to giganteous one meter across. Some species are monotonous in colour and pattern of blotches and yet others with striking white blotches against the red background on the perigone lobes and diaphragm, either raised globbose individual spots or shapeless joined continuum, as shown in diagrams and photographs in Meijer (1997) and Nais (2001).

For taxonomic purpose, the circumscription of Rafflesia species is based on floral morphology such as size of the flower, size and spot pattern of the diaphragm, the size of aperture opening, number of processes, pattern of inside ?windows?, number of anthers, number of annuli, and structure, length and positioning of ramenta (Meijer 1997, Nais 2001).

Table 1. Published species of Rafflesia compiled from Index Kewensis, with recognised species given in bold.

1. Rafflesia arnoldi R. Br. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 13 (1821) 201
2. Rafflesia arnoldii var. atjehensis (Koord.) W. Meijer in Fl. Males., Ser. 1, 13 (1997) 23
3. Rafflesia cumingii R. Br. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 19 (1844) 243 (= R. manillana)
4. Rafflesia hasseltii Suring. Acta Soc. Reg. Sc. Neerl. (1879) 4-5
5. Rafflesia horsfieldii R. Br. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 19 (1844) 242 (=?)
6. Rafflesia lagascae Blanco, Fl. Filip. ed. 2. (1837) 595 (= R. manillana)
7. Rafflesia manillana Teschem. in Boston Journ. Nat. Hist. 4 (1844) 63-65, t. 6
8. Rafflesia patma Blume, Flora 8 (1825), 609
9. Rafflesia philippensis Blanco, Fl. Filip. ed. II. (1837) 565 (= R. manillana)
10. Rafflesia rochussenii Teysm. & Binn. in Nat. Tijdschr. Nederl. Ind. 1 (1850) 425
11. Rafflesia schadenbergiana Goepp. ex Hieron. in Gartenfl. 34 (1885) 3; t. 1177
12. Rafflesia titan Jack, Desc. Malay. Plants, 3 (1820) 1 (= R. arnoldi)
13. Rafflesia tuan-mudae Becc. in Atti Soc. Ital. Sc. Nat. 11 (1868) 197
14. Rafflesia atjehensis Koord. in Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenz. 3 Ser. 1 (1918) 177 (= Rafflesia arnoldii var. atjehensis)
15. Rafflesia borneensis Koorders, Bot. Overz. Rafflesiac. Ned.-Ind. (1918) 47
16. Rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach in Ann. Jard. Buitenz. 20, Suppl. 3 (1910) 2
17. Rafflesia ciliata Koorders, Bot. Overz. Rafflesiac. Ned.-Ind. (1918) 64
18. Rafflesia gadutensis W. Meijer in Blumea 30(1): 211 (1984)
19. Rafflesia keithii W. Meijer in Blumea 30(1): 211 (1984)
20. Rafflesia kerrii W. Meijer in Blumea 30(1): 212 (1984)
21. Rafflesia micropylora W. Meijer in Blumea 30(1): 213 (1984)
22. Rafflesia patma Blume in Flora 8 (1825) 609
23. Rafflesia pricei W. Meijer in Blumea 30(1): 214 (1984)
24. Rafflesia tengku-adlinii K. Mat-Salleh & A. Latiff in Blumea 34(1): 112 (1989)
25. Rafflesia witkampi Koorders, Bot. Overz. Rafflesiac. Ned. Ind. (1918) 61
26. Rafflesia zollingeriana Koorders, Bot. Overz. Rafflesiac. Ned. Ind. (1918) 67
27. Rafflesia speciosa Barcelona et Fernando, Kew Bull 57 (2002) 648
28. Rafflesia azlanii Latiff et M. Wong, Folia Malaysiana 4: 135-146

2. Rafflesias of Malaysia

With the latest description of Rafflesia azlanii, the total number of species of rafflesias in Malaysia has been increased to 8. However it has no effect on the number of species in Peninsular Malaysia, which remains with 3 species: Rafflesia cantleyi, Rafflesia kerrii, and Rafflesia azlanii. However all of Peninsular Malaysian species are now endemics, since widely distributed Rafflesia hasseltii is no longer occuring in Peninsular Malaysia, and all populations attributed to this species have been transferred to R. azlanii. Likewise, Sabah is also with three endemic species; R. pricei, R. keithii and R. tengku-adlinii. Unlike Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, the number of species in Sarawak is less certain but suffice to note that current count based on photographs indicate that only three species are confirmed: R. tuan-mudae and R. hasseltii in the south and R. pricei in the north. Previous report of R. keithii in Lanjak-Entimau turns out to be R. tuan-mudae.

2.1. The Distribution and Conservation of Rafflesia in Malaysia

2.1.1. Rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laub.

Described by H. Graft zu Solms-Laubach in 1910 in honor of Nathaniel Cantley, the former Curator of Singapore Botanic Gardens (1880-1886) this species is classified as a medium size (30 ? 55 cm in diameter). Cantley collected the unnumbered type specimen in 1881 and given to Solms. Meijer (1984) and Wong, & Latiff (1994) have erronously published early report attributed this species as R. hasseltii based on earlier identification by Ridley (1910). This medium size species is an endemic to Peninsular Malaysia and found in the primary and secondary lowland dipterocarp forests (450 - 650 m asl) in Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang and Tioman Island. The species was listed as vulnerable, threatened with over-collection of buds for their purported medicinal properties.

Rafflesia cantleyi has not been previously officially reported inside the Taman Negara. However several flowers were photographed in the southern border near Gunung Mandi Angin by En. Samsul Kamis of UPM in Aug 2000. The mature buds of these species are also found in the forests near Kg. Pasir Raja in Terengganu in the northern part of Taman Negara near Kuala Koh, Kelantan. Easily accessable populations of this species are available in Hutan Simpan Bukit Tacing, Benta, Pahang and Hulu Geroh, near Gopeng, Perak.

2.1.2. Rafflesia kerrii Meijer

Known locally as Bunga Pakma or Bua Phut, this species was published by Willem Meijer in 1984 based on type specimen collected by A.F.G. Kerr from Kho Pawta Luang Keo, Ranong on 3 Feb. 1929. This species was named after him, an Irish physician, who became Siam's first Government botanist. Kerr made extensive collections of Rafflesia in Thailand and his specimens were deposited in several herbaria, mainly in Bangkok (BK) and London (K and BM). For decades Kerr?s specimens remained ignored and undescribed until it was discovered by Meijer in 1981 (Wong 1992, Wong & Gan 2003, Meijer & Elliotts 1990).

This rare species is the largest in the Malay Peninsula with open flower 50-70 cm in diameter and large orifice (12-20) cm across and short processes (ca 3 cm long). The host of this species is somewhat special because it was found in Tetrastigma tuberculaturn (Blume) reported by Latiff (2001) in Peninsular Malaysia and T. quadrangulum by Gagnep & Craib in Thailand (Wong and Gan 2003). Found at 500-1000 m asl in primary or logged over lowland and hill dipterocarp forest in southern Thailand (Ranong and Surat Thani) and Peninsular Malaysia (near Kelantan-Perak-Pahang borders), this species was earlier thought to be endemic to Thailand. However, it was collected in 1935 at Tepuh Hill on the Kelantan-Thailand border and in 1992 in G. Chamah (Kelantan-Perak border) and Pengkalan Hulu in Keroh, Perak.

According to Wong & Gan (2003), R. kerrii has been recorded in less than 10 localities in Thailand, from Prachnab Khirkhan southwards to Ranong to Khao Sok to the Yala-Betong Halabala Forest Reserve. Within Peninsular Malaysia, the distribution of R. kerrii appears to be confined to the Main Range in Kelantan State with the exception of those found near Pengkalan Hulu. Perak on the Bintang Range. It was first recorded in Kelantan from Bukit Tepuh near Jeli at the border of Kelantan with Thailand, where a bud was collected in 1935 by H. Witkarnp. It was also found in Gunung Chamah (Gan 1993), and along Sg. Semuliang in Gunung Stong. The southern most populations are found in Lojing Highlands and Hutan Simpanan Kekal Sg. Bells. Outside Kelantan the only verified report is from Pengkalan Hulu, Perak (Wong & Latiff 1994).

2.1.3. Rafflesia azlanii Meijer

The existence of the species that is seems to represent R. hasseltii in Peninsular Malaysia was discovered during the Malaysian Nature Society Heritage and Scientific Expedition to Sungai Halong, Temenggor, Perak in September 1993 by John Dawn, Marcus Erie and Kok Swee Ngor. The species was observed and photographed, seemed to differ from R. cantleyi. It was then thought to possibly be the missing R. hasseltii, and was recorded as such (Latiff et al. 1995).

In 1994, another observation of the species was made by Matthew Wong on the slopes of Gunung Ulu Sepat, Perak at c. 2000 m asl. Yet another and perhaps more significant population was discovered on 20th June 1997 (Latiff & Mat-Salleh 2001), still then believed to be R. hasseltii. It was also realised that Mr. Forest Gan had observed and recorded it earlier on Mt. Chamah in January 1993 (vide Wong & Gan 2002). No good specimens for study had been available until 2002, when Wong collected the type (Wong 5) in early May that year from the Kelantan-Perak border. The specimen displayed characters that differ from R. cantleyi and R. hasseltii - and also with the other species described so far (Meijer 1997, Nais 2001). These observations had prompted Wong and Gan (2002) to announce the discovery of the new species as `Rafflesia sp. 19'. After further months of careful observations, the new taxon has been distinguished taxonomically from R. cantleui and R. hasseltii and published as R. azlanii, named in honour of HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, the Patron of the Malaysian Nature Society Heritage and Scientific Expedition to Belum (Latiff & Wong 2004)

2.1.4. Rafflesia pricei Meijer

The rare Rafflesia pricei is probably one of the most revered amongst other protected species of Rafflesia. Its submontane habitats are relatively safe in well covered Sabah's network of protected areas. According to Nais (2001) two sanctuaries have been created to protect this species; the Rafflesia Forest Reserve in Tambunan District and the Poring-Mamut Rafflesia Sanctuary within the Mamut Copper Mine lease in Ranau District.

Rafflesia pricei, as wells as R. keithii and R. tengku-adlinii, are endemics of Borneo. It is currently known from eastern slopes of Crocker Range and in western and southern areas of Mt Kinabalu. Many populations were reported in Tambunan Rafflesia Conservation and Information Centre, The Poring-Mamut Rafflesia Sanctuary Within the Mamut Copper Mine area in Ranau, Langanan Waterfall in Poring Hot Springs, and Bukit Lugas and Bukit Tunturugung near Bundu Tuhan, Ranau, Sabah. It was also reported from Sarawak (Kelabit Highlands near Gunung Murud in Bario) and in Brunei (Bukit Retak). According to Nais (2001) it is also probably in Upper Kayan, near Long Ampin, East Kalimantan.
Rafflesia pricei was named in honor of William Robert Price, a honourary plant collector - volunteer from Kew Herbarium, England. Price made a collection along the trail to Mamut Copper Mine at 1300 asl in 1967 that was later designated as a type specimen by Meijer (1984). He was reportedly at an advanced age of 82 when he came to Sabah and had to be carried to the site of the type locality. However he was not the first to collect because Rev. Joseph and Mary Strong Clemens, the famous Kinabalu plant collectors has gathered a specimen on 17 March 1932 from the South-western part of Kinabalu and in 1966 Bruce Weber (U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer) and George Carson (Conservator of Forests) discovered a population with 125 buds on the south western slope of Mount Kinabalu, near Mamut and Poring.

This small - flowered Rafflesia (25 to 30 cm in diameter) grows in higher altitudes (around 1000 1400 m asl) takes 6-9 months to mature. Weber (1967) was the first to write about this Rafflesia, after a discovery of "a population of some 40 buds in area of about half an acre in Pinousok Plateau" in the eastern side of Kinabalu. This well-known species was featured several times on the front page of magazines, journals and books. Photographs were also widely distributed. Unfortunately, this original site was destroyed when the area was degazetted and excluded from Kinabalu Park. It was later developed into golf course and copper mine. Nevertheless, new sites have been discovered in Bukit Lugas, near Bundu Tuhan (Masni 1984) and recently at the Tenompok Pass, around statelands near Kg. Kiau on the foot of Kinabalu. There were numerous populations discovered along eastern slopes of Crocker Range in several areas between km 6164 Kota Kinabalu Tambunan Road, which is now part of the Rafflesia Sanctuary Forest Reserve, fully equipped with Rafflesia Information Center to serve visiting tourists.

2.1.5. Rafflesia keithii Meijer

Endemic to Sabah, this R. arnoldii equivalent was described by Dr. Willem Meijer in 1984 based on specimen collected by Leopold Madani, Sandakan Herbarium?s senior collector from Sungai Melaut, Sabah. The flower can reach 100 cm across with dense large white warts and small warts interspersed with the larger ones. Its Diaphragm with 5 concentric rings of white warts about 40 in radial rows, each surrounded by dark red brown margin. The ornamental pattern in the perigone lobes was cited by Meijer (1984) to be used to differentiate betweeen the species and R. arnoldii.

Rafflesia keithii has an ecological range up to 400 asl, and is reported in Lohan Valley and Poring Hot-Springs in Ranau. It is also found in the eastern slope of Crocker Range from Tambunan to Tenom, but never found in the western slope. It was also found in the western slope of Trus Madi Range near Tambunan.

It was named in honour of Mr. Harry G. Keith, the former Forest Conservator of Sabah and the husband of Agnes Keith, celebrated author who has written many books while they were in Sandakan.

2.1.6. Rafflesia tengku-adlinii Mat-Salleh & Latiff
Rafflesia tengku-adlinii is a hyper-endemic species to interior Sabah, found in only two localities in the eastern slopes of Mount Trus Madi and at Gunung Lotung, within the Sabah Foundation's Maliau Basin Conservation Area. Occurs in hill dipterocarp forests up to 800 m asl. First discovered by the author in December 1987 around Kampung Tempulun, near Kampung Kaingaran, Tambunan on the western slope of Mount Trus Madi. The existence of this species was probably first suspected by the discovery of buds around Telupid in Sabah in 1981 (Meijer 1997) but he initially thought he had rediscovered R. borneensis . The species was later discovered on Mount Lotung, within the Maliau Basin Conservation area in 1988 and at Kampung Sinoa on the southeastern slope of Mount Trus Madi (Nais 1997). The species has been designated by IUCN as an endangered species.

2.1.7. Rafflesia tuan-mudae Becc.

This species was first described by explorer-taxonomist Eduardo Beccari in 1868 and as far known as endemic to Southwestern Borneo. Medium size flower of 40-60 cm across, Beccari himself were not confident to the species, and has himself reduced it as conspecific with R. arnoldii. Later on, it was revived by Solms-Loubach in 1891, and was also recognised by Koorders (1918), because of its smalller size flower with fewer warts on perigone lobes. Coomans de Ruiters later collected a specimen in SW Kalimantan, which was identified as R. tuan-mudae but Meijer (1984) after studying Ruiter?s illustration concluded that it was similar to R. arnoldii.

It has been reported only in the area of Gunung Gading, Lundu and Pedawan, Serian. Photographs from Lanjak-Entimau indicated that it was also available there. The species is now quite well known to the public as articles on and photographs of it have been published in newspapers, magazines and popular journals from time to time.

2.1.8. Rafflesia hasseltii Suringar

Rafflesia hasseltii was described by Willem Frederik Reinier Suringar (1832 ? 1898), in 1879 (Suringar 1880) based on the collection of Van Hasselt, Veth and Snelleman on 29 Dec 1877 from Liki and Lompatan Andjing in Sumatra and was said to be known as ?Tjendawan Matahari?. More importantly, the species was said to resemble R. arnoldii R. Br. and R. patma Blume but with smaller flower than the two. The species was illustrated in detail showing the pattern of spots on the perigone lobes and diaphragm as well as lateral sections of the flower. Early European botanists in Malaya including Meijer (1983) had indentified Malayan species currently known as Rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach as R. hasseltii due to the similarity of the spots in Suringar?s illustration to this species. Meijer (1984, 1997) however changed his mind and treated that common central Malaysian species as Rafflesia cantleyi and adopted another species from Sumatra as R. hasseltii, which was later adopted by Ervizal Zuhud et al (1998) in their Rafflesia of Indonesia account. It was then become a norm to identify the one in Sumatra as R. hasseltii.

The species was also thought to be available in Samunsam, Sarawak based on blurred picture taken by Cheksum Tawan from UNIMAS in 1999 (Nais 2001). This was later confirmed by Ong (2004). Rafflesia hasseltii in Tanjung Datu has 2 ? 3 rings of whitish pink warts surrounded with red circle. The upper zone of the flower tube near attachment of the diaphragm has two instead of four rings of toadstool-like compound ramenta, and 25 ? 28 anthers as compared to only 20 anthers in Sumatra.

CONSERVATION OF RAFFLESIA

It was recognised that Rafflesia has become so evolutionarily specialized that the entire plant is but a single flower devoid of leaf, stem or roots. The only vegetative parts are fine filaments that penetrate into the Tetrastigma host. The flowering phase begins modestly as a small blackish protuberance, breaking out of protective cupule, then growing slowly some 6-10 months to take a huge reddish-brown cabbage-like bud. When in bloom, the flower lavishly displays its five fleshy perigone lobes, often mistaken as ?petals?. Some large Rafflesias are said to emit a penetrating smell more repulsive than a buffalo carcass in an advanced stage of decomposition, while in smaller species, the odour is only faint or nonexistent. Some species were seen to emit fragrances in the first few hours of blooming. Unfortunately, in spite of its size, a Rafflesia blooms does not last long, enough for flies to pollinate if and when male and female flowers are syncronisely blooming. Parasitic mode of life, specialized biological requirement, a long generation time, high mortality, and initial rarity are all perfect ingredients for extinction. This biological peculiarity is one of the hiccups that make Rafflesia very vulnerable (Ismail et al. 1998, Mat-Salleh 1991). Unlike other plants and animals, ex-situ conservation of Rafflesia is almost impossible. Thus any additional pressure such as habitat loss due to forest clearance, illegal harvesting, sabotage or unitentional tramplings can easily push it over the brink.

In recent years the general public in Malaysia has been actively involved in conservation and environment issues. In early 1988, after enormous pressure from public due to the lost of type locality of newly found Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, a state-level committee was set up to look into the conservation of Rafflesia in Sabah. The committee's major responsibility is to draw up strategies for maintaining a proper balance between forest exploitation and the preservation of selected Rafflesia conservation areas. As a result, the conservation of Rafflesia in Sabah was assured with the gazzetment of Rafflesia Forest Reserve in Tambunan. Other states have followed Sabah in maintaining some reserves dedicated to the conservation of Rafflesia.

3. TAMAN NEGARA AS A SANCTUARY FOR RAFFLESIA IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

As Peninsular Malaysia's largest and arguably most spectacular flowers, R. kerrii, R. cantleyi and R. azlanii, together with R. pricei, R. keithii, R. tuan-mudae and R. tengku-adlinii from Sabah are truely national treasures and worthy of the most urgent conservation measures. If habitat destruction and over-collection of flowers are allowed to continue, Malaysia will lose an important component of its natural heritage. What will future generations think of us if we do not prevent their extinction ?

Several issues are needed to be addressed. The most important aspect is the enforcement of whatever legal means available. Our forestry department should act proactively and educational sessions with orang asli should be organized. There are lot needs to be done in Peninsular Malaysia including vigorous promotion on current sites as a tourist attraction at national, state and even district levels. The promotion of rafflesia as a tourist attraction would not only bring in funds for conservation works but might also persuade villagers that the flowers are more valuable left growing rather than cut for sale for a few sen worth. In the Sabah and Sarawak, and Sumatera, rafflesia is already a well known tourist attraction

It would of course be ideal if we could bring rafflesia from the wild and propagate them in botanical gardens or parks. Unfortunately, this is far from ideal. Rafflesia in Sabah is not very critical because R. pricei is protected in Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve and R. tengku-adlinii in Meliau protection basin. Perhaps R. keithii is the only species not currently protected in forest reserves or park. In Sarawak healthy populations of R. tuan-mudae are protected within Gunung Gading and Lanjak Entimau National Parks. In Peninsular Malaysia, all the three species are available in our protected areas. We believe that R. cantleyi and R. azlanii are available in Taman Negara and R. kerrii can be protected if the Gunung Stong State Park is properly gazeted and managed.

Acknowledgements

The authors are most grateful to Dato? Hj. Saharudin Ismail (JPSM) for his permission and support, Tn. Hj. Sahir Othman (PERHILITAN) for permission to work in The National Parks and the organizers of the workshop for their invitation to the main author to present this paper. This study will be supported financially through IRPA grant 09-02-02-0035EA131 from MPKSN Malaysia.

References

Barcelona, J.F. & E.S. Fernando. 2002. A new species of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from Panay Island, Philippines. Kew Bull. 57: 647-651
Gan, F. 1993. A new record of Rafflesia in Peninsula! Malaysian Naturalist 47 (l &2): 8-9
Ismail, G.; K. Mat Salleh, L. Ali & T.D.Z. Adlin. 1988. Rafflesia of Sabah: A case for conservation. Sabah Soc. Journal 9:437456
Koorders, S.H. 1918. Botanish overzicht der rafflesiaceae van Netherlandsch-Indie. G. Kloff & Co., Batavia.
Latiff, A. & K. Mat-Salleh. 1991. Rafflesia. In: R. Kiew (Ed.) The State of Nature Conservation in Malaysia. Malayan Nature Society.
Latiff, A., K. Mat-Salleh, A. Z. Ibrahim, S. Muzni, I. M. Turner & J. W. H. Yong. 1995. Peliminary checklist of flowering plants from Temenggor Forest Reserve, Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Mal. Nat. J. (3&4): 175-188.
Latiff, A. 2001. Studies in Malesian Vitaceae XII: Taxonomic Notes on Cissus Ampelocissus, Nothocissus and Tetrastigma and other genera, Folia malaysiana 2(3): 179-189
Latiff, A. & K. Mat-Salleh. 2001. Note on the discovery of Rafflesia hasseltti Suringar (Rafflesiaceae) in Taman Negara, Peninsular Malaysia. Flora Malesiana Bull.12 (7/8): 393-395
Latiff, A. & M. Wong. 2004. A new species of Rafflesia from Peninsular Malaysia. Folia Malaysiana 4: 135-146
Masni Jubil. 1984. Kajian ekologi dan taksonomi Rafflesia di Sabah. Tesis Sarjanamuda Sains (Kepujian). Jabatan Biologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Kampus Sabah, Kota KInabalu.
Mat-Salleh, K. & Latiff, A. 1989. A new spesies of Rafflesia and notes on other spesies from Trust Madi Range, Sabah (Borneo). Blumea 34: 111-116.
Mat-Salleh, K. 1991. Rafflesia, Magnificent Flower of Sabah. Kota Kinabalu, Borneo: Borneo Publishing Company.
Meijer, W. 1983. Rafflesia rediscovered. Malayan Naturalist: 21-27.
Meijer, W. 1984. New spesies of Rafflesia. Blumea 30: 209-215.
Meijer, W. 1997. Rafflesiaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I 13: 1-42.
Meijer, W. and Elliotts. 1990. Taxonomy, Ecology and Conservation of Rafflesia kerrii Meijer in Southern Thailand. Natural History of Bulletin of the Siam Society 38: 117-133.
Nais, J. 1997. Distribution, reproductive ecology and conservation of Rafflesia in Sabah, Malaysia. University of Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K (Ph.D. Disrertation).
Nais, J. & C.C. Wilcock. 1998. The Rafflesia concervation incentive scheme in Sabah, Malaysia, Borneo. Sabah Parks Nature Journal 1: 9-17
Nais, J. 2001. Rafflesia of the World. Sabah Parks, Kota Kinabalu in association with Natural History Publication (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd, Kota Kinabalu.
Ong Lai Peng. 2004. Biologi Rafflesia hassettii di Taman Negara Tanjung Datu, Sarawak. Tesis Sarjanamuda Sains (Kepujian). Pusat Pengajian Sains Sekitaran dan Sumber Alam, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi.
Ridley, H.N. 1910. A scientific expedition to Temenggoh, Upper Perak. J. Str Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 57: 5-122
Suringar, W.F.R. 1880. Rafflesia hasseltii. Acta Societatis Regiae Scentiarum Neerlandicae 25 Oct 1879: 4-5
Weber, B.C. 1967. Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, in Kinabalu National Park. Sabah Society Journal 23: 111-113.
Wong, M. 1992. Kerr?s Rafflesia - a rare botanical gem. Nature Malaysiana 17(4): 124-125, 128-129.
Wong, M. & A. Latiff. 1994. Rafflesias of Peninsular Malaysia. Nature Malaysiana 19(3): 84-88.
Wong, M. & F. Gan. 2002.Rafflesia No. 19: A new species of Rafflesia found in Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysian Naturalist 56:14-17
Wong, M. & Gan, F. 2003. The elegant Rafflesia kerrii of Kelantan. Folia Malaysiana 4 (1): 53-62.
Zuhud, E., A. M., Hikmat, A. & Nadzrun, J. (1998). Rafflesia Indonesia: Keanekaragaman, Ekologi dan Pelestariannya. Yayasan Pembinaan Suaka Alam dan Suaka Margasatwa Indonesia & Laboratorium Konservasi Tumbuhan Jurusan Konservasi Sumberdaya Hutan Fakultas Kehutanan IPB, Bogor

http://dendronetcetera.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html

Kapan di temukannya Rafflesia Patma Pertamakali?

2008-03-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

Minggu, 29 Oktober 2006
http://www.republika.co.id/kirim_berita.asp?id=269814&kat_id=298&edisi=Cetak
Bunga Rafflesia
( )

Nama genusnya Rafflesia, diambilkan dari penemunya, TS Raffles. Ini bunga terbesar di dunia. Baunya busuk menyengat, menyerupai bau busuk bangkai ular. Lalat bangkai dan kumbang tertarik oleh bau bunga ini. Selain itu, seranggga itu mungkin juga tertarik oleh warnanya yang merah cerah, bertotol-totol putih seperti luka bernanah. Bentuknya seperti kawah. Dari jarak jauh, bau bunga ini sudah tercium, sehingga mendorong lalat mendatanginya, masuk ke dalam bunga dan melumuri punggungnya dengan serbuk sari. Bunga ini menghasilkan serbuk sari yang kental, dan semakin kental jika dibawa keluar oleh serangga, sehingga menjadi tahan lama.

Bunga ini mempunyai lima daun bunga, diameter ada yang mencapai 106 cm, diameter terkecil R manillana, hanya 20 cm. Berat, ada yang mencapai 11 kg (yaitu spesies R arnoldii). Rafflesia hidup sebagai parasit di tumbuyhan merambar, tetrastigma. Ada 15-19 spesies bunga Rafflesia

Rafflesia patma hidup di dataran rendah pantai selatan Jawa Barat dan Jawa Tengah. Rafflesia patma ditemukan pertama kali pada 1825 di Nusa Kambangan, Jawa Tengah. Sedangkan Rafflesia rochussenii ditemukan di pegunungan Jawa Barat. Di Bengkulu, Sumatra, ditemukan juga bunga Rafflesia, yaitu Rafflesia arnoldii ini. Inilah spesies pertama yang ditemukan pada 1818 oleh TS Raffles dan Dr Joseph Arnold, di Bengkulu. Diameternya mencapai 97 cm.

Di Malaysia bisa ditemukan tujuh spesies, dan lima di antaranya hanya ada di Malaysia. Orang Malaysia menyebut bunga ini sebagai bunga padma. di Indonesia ada yang menyebutnya sebagai bunga bangkai. Padahal yang dimaksud bunga bangkai bukan bunga ini. Bunga bangkai yang dimaksud adalah bunga yang berbahasa Latin Amorphopallus.

Spesies yang ada di Malaysia yaitu Rafflesia cantleyi dan Rafflesia kerrii, ditemukan di Peninsular, Rafflesia arnoldii, Rafflesia pricei, Rafflesia keithii, Rafflesia tuan-mudae, dan Rafflesia tengku-adlinii ditemukan di Sarawak dan Sabah. Rafflesia kerrii, Rafflesia keithi, Rafflesia tuan-mudae, dan Rafflesia tengku-adlinii merupakan spesies endemik di Malaysia.

Di Jawa dan Sumatra, bunga ini hidup di ketinggian 500-700 meter dai permukaan laut. Bunganya berkembang selama 5-6 hari lalu layu. Bunga yangmati akan jatuh menimpa dirinya sendiri, berubah menjadi hitam sampai biji matang di dalamnya. Binatang seperti gajah dan tupai membantu distribusi biji bunga Rafflesia ini. Kuku atapun cakarnya binatang ini membantu biji Rafflesia masuk ke tetrastigma kemudian tumbuh di tumbuhan merambat itu.

Pada 1924, kebun Raya Bogor berhasil menanam biji Rafflesia rochussenii di tetrastigma, dan 4,5 tahun kemudian berbunga. Rafflesia dikenal sebagai bunga yang tak bertangkai, tak berdaun, dan tak berakar dengan benar. i atumbuh dalam pembuluh batang tetrastigma di sela-sela batang, terbentuk kuncup, dan setelah 18 bulan mekar menjadi bunga. Enam bulan setelah mekar, matanglah bijinya.

Rafflesia dapat berkembang di kawasan hutan yang banyak tumbuhan rambat tetrastigma, banyak binatang yang bisa menyebarkan bijinya ke tumbuhan tetrastigma. Di perlukan juga banyak binatang mikro yang dapat menginfeksi akar tumbuhan tetrastigma itu. Dibutuhkan pula populasi mamalia yang besar sehingga ketika mamalia mati menyediakan tempat berkembang serangga penyebar biji Rafflesia.

Photo of Rafflesia Arnoldii from Curup, Bengkulu

2008-03-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

http://largaenciel.multiply.com/photos/album/9/Rafflesia_Arnoldi#1

Rafflesia from Singkawang, west Borneo, Indonesia

2008-03-29T16:56:00.001-07:00

Photo Information

Genre: Plants

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 1993-09

Categories: Rain Forest, Fungi, Flowers

Camera: Nikon F-401s, Nikkor 35-70 / 4,5-5.6, fuji 100, HOYA 55m PL-CIR

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2006-06-04 8:47

Shot of the famous Rafflesia, taken outside of Sinkawang, West Kalimantan...

The Rafflesia is sometimes called the World's largest flower (ie. growing up to a metre in diameter), actually it's a parasidic plant that spends most of it's time hidden in the base of jungle vines until the hard bud bursts through the host plant and rapidly develops its huge cauldron-like flower. Pollinated by flies, it is a carrion plant, preying on insects..

http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo57534.htm

Rafflesia - the Biggest Flower

2008-03-29T16:51:00.001-07:00

Photo Information

Genre: Plants

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2001-03

Categories: Flowers

Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8 L-USM

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2007-02-24 11:12

I have decided to post a flower today.

The Rafflesia is the world's biggest flower - some specimens are over a meter in diameter (this one was about 90cm). They are found in peninsula Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the southern Philippines in rainforest habitat.

The flowers take about 10 months to develop from the woody, parasitic vine. The buds swell until they reach the size of a large cabbage or football and then open - but only last for 3 days. The flowers give off the smell of rotting meat to attract the flies which pollinate them.

There are 17 species of Rafflesia - this is one of the biggest - Keithii. The name Rafflesia come from Sir Stamford Raffles who gave his name to them and to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

There is no flowering season - you just have to be lucky - I was - there were two in flower on my visit and they were both quite close to the park HQ.

This is a scanned slide. As usual I didn't use a tripod (I am really bad about that) and I do not think I used a flash.

Sarawak, Gunung Gading National Park

Sweet Rafflesia

2008-03-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

Sweet Rafflesia

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Taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (See more photos here)

5°58' 22" N, 116°4' 03" E

This beautiful rafflesia was painted by Batik. Batik means "dot" so it's orginally a kind of painting by dot.
This batik rafflesia was hanging on exibition part of Rafflesia in research center.

In Thailand we called Rafflesia "Bua Phud" ("บัวผุด") which mean emerging lotus. It could explain how the flower sudenly emerges from bud on ground.

I took tihs shot first for making sure ibn case I could not see the flower by my eyes.

something is not always easy to get, to have or to see, we need great attempt for and by this attempt, something like that will be unforgetable and it's great that once in a while we start to do something harder for something precious.

Difficult route
but beautiful desination in return.

(added) From Wikipedia

Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It contains 15-19 species (including four incompletely known species as recognized by Meijer 1997), all found in southeastern Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra and Kalimantan, West Malaysia, and the Philippines. The flowers have no leaves and hardly any stem, just a huge speckled five-petaled flower with a diameter up to 106 cm, and weighing up to 10 kg. Even the smallest species, R. manillana, has 20 cm diameter flowers. The flowers smell like rotting meat, hence its local names which translate to "corpse flower" or "meat flower". The vile smell that the flower gives off can sometimes attract flies. It is parasitic on vines in the genus Tetrastigma (Vitaceae), spreading its roots inside the vine. The fruit is eaten by tree shrews and other forest mammals. Rafflesia is an official state flower of Sabah in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

At Rafflesia Research Center
Kotakinabalu
Borneo Island
Malaysia

http://www.flickr.com/photos/araleya/265623890/in/photostream/

Rafflesia and my Dedication

2008-03-29T16:45:00.001-07:00

Rafflesia and my Dedication

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Taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (See more photos here)

5°58' 22" N, 116°4' 03" E

I dream to see this typical flower for long time. Never think that I would succeed in Kotakinabalu, the state of Malaysia in Borneo Island.

It's a kind of strange flower that bloom only 7 days directly from bud. Buds are on ground collect food for 6-7 months. It's noticed that these buds mostly found near to grape-like plant. In Kotakinabalu there is a research
Center for Rafflesia but the research lab is very big - in the true forest. At present, Rafflesia can only natural planted by NATURE.

As I go to research center so I didn't prepare for mountain hiking before. We had a forest man as a guide and climbed downhill for 45 minutes and slope was more steep till it was difficult to stand. We walked through the path full of moss and fern, moisted air and sound of stream flow nearer. I tried not to ask when we will reach it. I was soaking with sweat. Then the guide stopped suddenly and said it's was there on the left side. Even with 400 mm zoom len but it was there with dense plants around, so we walked carefully along the contour line to see it closely. The steep slope that we couldnot stand upright at all.

We had to pressed our foot firmly on ground not slipping down and grasp branches along the way.

Till we meet her near, sweat got into my eyes, with one hand grasped the instable branches and I passed my camera for my friend who stood in the position that could use two hands taking photo.

We were so near that we could touch. This type is small size and nmo bad smell. I didn't know I should glad or sad to find her instead of the huge size with bad smell, its reputation. However I found she was so lovely.

A flower growing out from small bud and blossom only a week. We met her on her sixth day. I touched her very lightly. Never think that I could go into jungle to find her family again any second time.

After that we climbed up for 1.30 hrs, more difficult with slope that's steeper than 45 degree for almost half way. I stopped to rest and drink water several times and said I could not make it any more. I need longer stop but we didn't want to waste the time of the forestry guide, so I tried harder. Even I felt I was biten by something on my leg but we didn't stop. I said maybe insect or snake, small and sudden pain for some seconds.

Its not a kind of normal trekking route but I go down into the rain forest chasm. Route seemed never-ending for me. Climbing up fast used lots of energy and I totally soaked with sweat like bathing. I said to my friend, this trip is specially dedeicated to her - the Rafflesia and I will never forget her and this route.

Till I could make it. We reached the top then I found my blue jean was filled with blood. we were biten by leech. It's my first time biten by leech. Normally I could feel the moment it will be bite and I get it out before. This time I felt before but I couldn't find a place to stop on that slope. Anyway glad to be biten, I wanted to know how to be biten by leech and never dare to.
So I conclude that

"This is just for her... I do for her...the Rafflesia. I will never forget you"

Borneo island is a very tropical rainforest location. Its average rainfall is 4000 mm a year and there are so many typical plants and animals there, one in the world. However rafflesia is found many locations around southeast Asia. In the south of Thailand, it is found too but I came to see this in Borneo island.

Location :
downhill forest
near to Rafflesia Research Center
Kotakinabalu, Borneo Island
Malaysia

http://www.flickr.com/photos/araleya/265624334/

2008-03-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia speciosa Barcelona and Fernando

In 2002 a Rafflesia was seen blooming on the island of Panay, Antique province, Sibalom Natural Park (SNP) near the town of Sibalom. Sightings were also been reported in the adjacent town of San Remegio (also in Antique province) and nearby barangays at the Antique-Iloilo border. Up to this point in time, two species of Rafflesia had been described from the Philippine islands: R. manillana from the island of Luzon (Mt. Maquiling) and R. schadenbergiana from Mindanao (Mt. Apo). The latter species had not been seen since 1882 when it was first collected (Hieronymus s.n.). The plant was described by Göppert in 1885 whereas R. manillana was named by Teschemacher in 1842. These two species are easily distiguished from each other: R. manillana has a flower 15-20 cm in diameter (the smallest of all Rafflesia species) whereas the flower of R. schadenbergiana is one of the largest (up to 80 cm wide).

On March 15, 2002, I was contacted by Mr. Albert T. Mamora Jr., a biology graduate who now writes for a weekly newspaper in the province of Antique. He asked how one could identify the Philippine species of Rafflesia and suggested that the flower he was seeing was a new species. A series of correspondences ensued, and eventually I was directed to contact Dr. Julie Barcelona, a Botanist with the Philippine National Herbarium (PNH), National Museum of the Philippines in Manila. As it turns out, Julie, along with Dr. Edwino S. Fernando, was already involved in naming this new species of Rafflesia!

The discovery of this plant caused quite a sensation in the SNP where it was found. Many tourists visited the site and the event was covered by the local newspapers and television stations. The plant was first discovered by members of The Antique Outdoors (TAO), a conservation group in the province of Antique, Panay Island. Although the SNP is protected, Julie is working hard to ensure that additional sites where the plant was found are also protected. Presented below are some photographs, taken by Albert Mamora, Julie Barcelona and their assistants.

Description from Barcelona and Fernando (Kew Bulletin, 57: 647-651, 2002)

Mature buds 18-20 cm in diameter; cupule of mature flowers 2.5 cm high, 8.5 cm wide, bud scales to 11 cm long. Flowers (45-) 50-56 cm diam., 13-16 cm high when expanded. Perigone lobes orbicular, (10-) 12-18.5 (-20) X 14-22.5 cm, ca. 1 cm thick at base, dark-, reddish- or rusty-brown, becomming paler with age; upper surface warty, warts whitish, generally small and narrow, rather scattered, irregular in shape, whitish on a reddish-brown background in new bloom, undersurface smooth with white, roundish blots; margin entire to sinuate. Diaphragm 18-20 cm diam., to 7 mm thick, usually darker than the perigone lobes, upper surface appearing generally smooth, devoid of the white warts present on the perigone lobes, instead numerous smaller irregular white specks present all over, some occurring in groups that form two concentric rings around the rim, very prominent in newly opened flowers and fading with age, appearing brown on dark background when dry; the rim entire, whitish; orifice 9.5 - 10 cm diam. Disk ca. 9.5-12 (-14.3) cm in diam., ca. 6 mm thick, dome-shaped centrally, yellow-orange becoming reddish-orange at the periphery; rim of disk steeply raised with 1.0-1.5 cm raised part, enire to irregularly finely crenulate, reddish orange in new bloom; column to 2.5 cm above the base of the perianth tube, or ca. 6.5 cm from cupule base to the tip of disk, neck of column to 5.5 cm diam.; processes (17-) 20-27 (-31), usually arranged in 2-3 concenric rings pointing outward towards the rim, to 1.3-2.3 cm long, ca. 6 mm wide at base, reddish proximally, darker distally. Ramenta distributed all over the undersurface of the diaphragm, those above the perigone attachments generally stouter and reduced to tubercles, those below to ca. 2 mm long, becoming shorter towards the diaphragm base, simple or shallowly variably lobed. Male flowers with 19-24 anthers; anthers ca. 4.5 X 5 mm, anther cavity ca. 1.3 X 1.0 cm, densely hairy. Female flowers not known.

Albert Mamora Jr. posing with the flower of Rafflesia speciosa.

Albert Mamora and friend near the plants. Note the bamboo exclosure placed around some of the buds.

Close-up of the flower buds and an open flower in the background.

A fully opened flower and one that is senescing to the right.

Julie Barcelona (center) and two members of The Antique Outdoors group posing with the flower of Rafflesia speciosa.

Julie Barcelona (for scale!) with a flower bud of R. speciosa.

Close-up of the flower bud of R. speciosa

A senescent flower of R. speciosa. Hopefully there will be some fruit production in these populations.

A fully opened flower of Rafflesia speciosa. Fantastic! Julie notes that the markings on the perigone lobes look like Rice Crispies!

SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Rafflesiaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.SpNov.page.html
Last updated: 14-May-07 / dln

Rafflesia manillana Teschemacher

2008-03-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia manillana Teschemacher

Species named after the city of Manilla, Philippines.

Description translated from the original German text (Koorders 1918) by Vanessa Ashworth.

Perigone lobes with rounded warts (as far as is possible to determine in the bud). Perigone tube so densely covered with mushroom-shaped stalked ramenta that the parasol edges of the individual ramenta almost touch each other. On the interior surface of the diaphragm are three horizontal rows of flat warts with a short, flat stalk, representing shortened and widened mushroom-type ramenta. The annulus internus [internal ring] is massively developed forming the upwardly reflexed column base, opening diagonally upward, sharpened. Annulus externus [outer ring] practically not present, developed as a glabrous annular zone of almost imperceptible swelling. Discus staminatus [staminate disc] flat with a raised but narrow edge and with short-stalked processes having button-like endings with terminal bristles. Slope of the disc facing inward, anthers pendent [hanging down] separated by sharp, blade-like rounded laminae covered by fleshy bristles along their margins. At their other end these rounded laminae turn into flat extensions that separate the anther cavities. These are flat above, becoming increasingly incised toward the base, well demarcated, coming close to the annulus. Extension between them [the anther cavities] widening externally into triangles and covered with dark bumps. Secondary extensions present both in the cavities and the ridges; the latter extending as far as the annulus in diverging directions. Female flower not known with certainty (Solms).

Description from Flora Malesiana treatment (W. Meijer, 1997)

Flower buds up to 8 cm across, cupule 2.5-3 cm high, 4-6 cm wide, bud scales up to 5.5-7 cm long. Flowers 15-20 cm wide and 7-9 cm high when expanded. Perigone lobes light reddish brown, 4-6 cm long and 5-7 cm wide, white warts a mixture of larger circular with oval ones, about 10-12 along a transverse line halfway up the lobes, mixed with numerous white dots. Diaphragm ca. 1-1.4 cm broad, ca. 7 cm in diameter, strongly curved inwards along the opening, which is about 5/6th as wide as the apex of the perigone tube; upper face rather densely randomly covered with oblongish white warts. Disk of column ca. 2 cm above the base of the perianth tube, 3.2-4.5 cm in diameter including the rim, exposed whle the flower is opened; rim of disk with a 3-5 mm high raised part. Processes about 14-20 (-30), sometimes almost missing in the centre of the disk, 3.5-5.5 mm long, apex cylindric, with bushy cilia. Neck of column 1.3 -1.8 cm in diameter, narrower in male flowers. One prominent annulus, 3 mm broad, 30-38 mm in diameter around the base of the column. Perigone tube ca. 2.5 cm deep, 5 cm wide; ramenta at the inner side in about 12 rows, little stalked outgrowths, 0.5-1 mm high, multilobed at apex, virtually absent near the base of the perianth tube, close to the annulus; in a 1 cm wide zone below the diaphragm with short, warty lobed, whitish, 2-3 mm wide warts. Male flowers with 10-15 anthers, relatively large for such small flowers, not hidden in a sulcus as in the larger-flowered species, but attached rather close to the lower margin of the disk; corresponding with each anther in the central column a deep groove which runds down below the anther to the column base. Female flowers with ovary 2.5 cm wide at apex, 1.0 cm high, about the annulus without grooves or with very faint ones, less room under the corona (overhang) of the disk than in male flowers, on it slower side a pappillose stigmatic zone.

Rafflesia manillana, fully open flower. This species has the smallest flower among all known species of Rafflesia (15-20 cm diameter). Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Julie Barcelona.

Rafflesia manillana, open flower with bud. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Julie Barcelona.

Julie Barcelona and Danny Balete with a Rafflesia manillana flower. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Arvin Diesmos.

Julie Barcelona with the tiny (relatively speaking!) Rafflesia manillana flower. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Arvin Diesmos.

Rafflesia manillana flower and bud. Mt. Natib, Philippines. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

Julie Barcelona studying a Rafflesia manillana flower. Mt. Natib, Philippines.

Senescent Rafflesia manillana flowers. Or are some of these forming fruits? Mt. Natib, Philippines.

Open flower showing column inside the diaphragm and the densely spotted perigone tube. Mt. Labo, photo by Julie Barcelona.

Close-up of diaphragm opening with pollinating flies. Mt. Labo, photo by Julie Barcelona.

SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Rafflesiaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.man.page.html
Last updated: 11-May-07 / dln

Knop R. Arnoldii in Curup, Bengkulu

2008-03-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

at Pagar Gunung I near Curup (Prop. Bengkulu) - 7.1.'87
at Pagar Gunung II near Curup (Prop. Bengkulu) - 22.1.'90

and again 12.2.'90

C’est la RAFFLESIA ARNOLDII

2008-03-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Découverte en 1818 à Sumatra par Sir Raffles qui fonda Singapour et son ami botaniste J. Arnold

Rafflésia de Bornéo

Cette fleur exceptionnelle qui ne ressemble à aucune autre, pousse dans les forêts du sud est asiatique.
Elle peut atteindre 70 cm de diamètre et peser jusqu’à 7 kg
Elle n’a ni feuille, ni tige, ni racines et vit en parasite sur les tiges d’une ou 2 espèces de lianes.
Elle appartient à la famille des Malpighiacées (comme les violettes et les fleurs de la passion) mais sent très mauvais.
Cette odeur attire les mouches qui assurent sa pollinisation.
Entre l’apparition du premier bourgeon et son éclosion il faudra attendre 9 mois environ.
Une fois épanouie cette fleur flétrira en 4 à 5 jours.
La durée du cycle de la Rafflésia est de 4 à 5 ans entre de la germination de la graine à sa production.

                    
                    On l’appelle aussi le lys parasite nauséabond !!

http://www.domgaillard.com/

RAFFLESIA OF THE RAINFOREST, THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOWER: Conservation of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) in Malaysia

2008-03-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

By WildBorneo.net

" --we have no choice but to cast them together, as oddities, into their own category, much as in an asylum we bring together the mentally ill, whose mania are extremely varied, but of whom no one is really what he pretends or imagines to be " (Trattinick, 1828)

The Rafflesia is probably one of Malaysia's most well known icon of the tropical forest. The Rafflesia has been depicted in numerous tourist brochures, commemorated in Malaysian stamps and have also been featured on older editions of Malaysian coins. The Rafflesia, where it has been conserved, is also an important attraction for tourists whom are eager to see one of the rarest rainforest spectacle. But the Rafflesia, the giant flower of the rainforest, had once been banished, like the mentally ill, to its own asylum in the plant kingdom, separate and distinct from its kin, such as the garden rose or the sweetly fragrant flowers of the jasmine.

The flowering episode is however brief, and will last no more than a couple of days. Once the flowers are in bloom, no one is really sure how the flowers are pollinated, or how the seeds are dispersed. One botanist even suggested that termites, which would place it at the feet of elephants to aid its dispersal, could disperse the seeds! Beyond the visible display of flowers, the remaining life-cycle of the Rafflesia remains a mystery to botanists.

Botanists currently recognise 14 or 15 species of Rafflesia, and the plants are known only from Asia (namely, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Phillipines). Many of the species are extremely rare, and have been recorded from only a handful of localities. In Malaysia, we boast of having nearly 50 % of all known Rafflesias. Of these, R. cantleyi is found only in northern Peninsular Malaysia, and R. keithii, R. pricei and R. tengku-adlinii are found only in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo). There are several important Rafflesia sites in Malaysia, many of which are worth a visit for they are also important conservation areas. In Peninsular Malaysia, R, hasseltii has been recorded from Taman Negara and Ulu Belum (an exceptional area of biodiversity, which has recently been gazetted as a conservation area). R. cantleyi, a Malaysian endemic, is more widespread and has been commonly observed in bloom around the Gopeng and Taiping area (many of the known sites have not been formally recognised as protected areas).

In Sarawak, R. arnoldii (the first species of Rafflesia to be described in the botanical literature) can be found at Gunung Gading National Park, about two hours drive from Kuching. All the Sabah endemics, R. priceii, R. keithii and R. tengku-adlinii, are found within protected areas, and of these, the former two species can be seen at Poring (Kinabalu National Park) and the Rafflesia Centre (Crocker Range National Park).

Apart from National Parks, a unique initiative had been launched to protect Rafflesia sites on privately owned land in Sabah. One such site is near the town of Ranau, in a small village called Kg. Kokob. A local resident of Kg. Kokob is conserving the site of R. keithii, one of the largest flowering Rafflesias in Sabah. It is a very commendable initiative, and amazingly the Rafflesia was only discovered on their land as late as 1995, despite it being a family homestead for many years.

Efforts to conserve Rafflesia on private land need to be encouraged. One can help simply by visiting these sites. In Kg. Kokob, between 1995 and 1999, a total of about 500 visitors (both local & foreign tourists) have visited this site. The small entrance fee charged goes a long way to enhancing the conservation of this most remarkable species. Similar initiatives need to be encouraged, and there are many other sites in Peninsular Malaysia, which can adopt these simple prescriptions for conserving the world's largest flower.

In Peninsular Malaysia, one of the most alarming trends is in the collection of Rafflesia buds for use in traditional medicine. Often the collectors are experienced jungle experts, local orang aslis, whom are paid as little as RM 1 per bud. The buds are eventually sold in the market place for around RM5 or are processed into medicinal preparations. The belief is that the Rafflesia buds will help mothers recover after their pregnancy. In fact, the local name for Rafflesia, Bunga Patma, illustrates how deep this folklore is our culture ("Patma", is a Sanskrit word for "fertility").

In a local wet-market in Ipoh, a Malay woman had once regularly sold Rafflesia buds. She had been asked recently why she had stopped selling them, her answer was ominous, "tidak ada lagi"(there are not any left). It is clear that the over-collection of Rafflesia buds will pose a serious threat to the conservation of Rafflesia. These practices, as well as the loss of habitat, are some of the problems undermining the efforts to conserve our magnificent flower.

-----------------------
http://www.explorationborneo.com/rafflesia_centre.html

la rafflésia

2008-03-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

la rafflésia: Rafflesia est un genre de plante parasite de vigne du genre Tetrastigma des régions tropicales. Cette plante est retrouvée dans la péninsule malaise, à Bornéo, Sumatra, en Malaisie péninsulaire et aux Philippines. Elle ne possède ni tige, ni feuille, ni racine, mais une fleur actinomorphe à cinq pétales.

C'est la fleur la plus grande du monde végétal. Chez certaines espèces comme Rafflesia arnoldii elle peut atteindre un mètre de diamètre et peser jusqu'à 10 kg. chez des espèces plus petites comme Rafflesia manillana, la fleur présente un diamètre de 20 cm. La pollinisation est assurée par des mouches attirées par l'odeur fétide dégagée par la fleur.

La Rafflesia ne possède pas de chlorophylle et est incapable de photosynthèse. Elle dépend donc totalement de la plante qu'elle parasite. Lors de leur cycle de développement, elles vivent à l'intérieur de leur hôte sous formes de filaments. Ce n'est qu'au cours de leur floraison qu'elles sont visibles extérieurement. Son mode de vie est ainsi comparable à celui d'un champignon.

La Rafflésie a été découverte en 1818 dans une forêt tropicale d’Indonésie par le botaniste Joseph Arnold et nommé par Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, le chef de l’expédition.

Bien qu'on la classait jusqu'à présent dans la famille des Rafflesiaceae, des études récentes portant sur 11500 paires de bases du génome de la plante la rapprochent des Euphorbiaceae desquelles elle se serait différenciée il y a 46 millions d'années.

Rafflesia arnoldii, ou lys parasite nauséabond, est un membre du genre Rafflesia. Si l’inflorescence de l'Arum titan est la plus grande fleur du monde, c’est Rafflesia arnoldii qui présente la plus grande fleur simple. Elle peut en effet atteindre un mètre de diamètre et peser jusqu'à 10 kg. Cette plante est rencontré dans les forêts humides à Sumatra, Bornéo et en Indonésie. La Rafflésie est une plante parasite qui s’accroche aux lianes de vigne du genre Tetrastigma.
L’odeur de pourri dégagée par la fleur attire des insectes comme la mouche Chrysomyia megacephala qui permet la pollinisation des fleurs.

Récupérée de « http://fr.wikipedia.org

http://reports.travel.ru/reports/2007/260307_5.html

Magnificent Arial Bloom of Rafflesia in Lojing

2008-03-27T09:02:00.001-07:00

Magnificent Arial Bloom of Rafflesia in Lojing

Profesional photographer Andy Lim published a magnificent photo of hanging Rafflesia kerrii from Lojing in his portal, AndyLim Creative, here. He also published another photo from the same area, so I assume that there was a double bloom then.

Rafflesia keithii in Poring, Sabah

2008-03-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia keithii in Poring, Sabah

Dewars On The Rock published the most recent bloom of Rafflesia keithii in Poring. She did not tell where it was, probably in one of the RCIS schemes around Hot Spring. You can read about her 4th trip to Borneo here.

The Largest Flower on Earth

2008-03-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

March 17, 2007

The Largest Flower on Earth

Rafflesia arnoldii reeks of rotting flesh and doesn't have any leaves, stems, or roots, but it still makes me think of quirky space plants and video game vegetation. It's the world's largest flower, and it can only be found in Indonesia. Unfortunately, like most things on planet earth, it's in danger of extinction. If you think this flower looks too bizarre to exist, it's probably because sooner or later it might not.

This Fact posted by Taryn

http://thefactbox.blogspot.com/2007/03/largest-flower-on-earth.html

RAFFLESIA in Bukit Tinggi

2008-03-27T08:48:00.001-07:00

the rafflesia(the world´s biggest flower a jungle near Bukittinggi(central Sumatra)

Photo of Rafflesia from sumatera

2008-03-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia - najwiekszy kwiat na swiecie. Ten na zdjeciu ma 60cm a moze byc nawet 2 razy wieksza.

Zeby zrobic sobie z nia zdjecie, trzeba bylo zawisnac na lianie, z ktorej ona wyrasta.

http://picasaweb.google.com/peter.slawka/IndonezjaBaliGiliIslandsSumatra/photo#5155669204304654914

Rafflesia arnoldii in Batang Pelupuh, Sumatra by KMS

2008-03-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

TAHURA Bung Hatta, Padang, Sumatra Barat

Qting

with Qting in Rafflesia arnoldi site in Batang Pelupuh, Sumatra

Qting

Nana

Photo Raflesia from Cameron Highlands by Juin Yin

2008-03-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

TC Taking Photos of Rafflesia

Rafflesia In Blossom

Unblossomed Rafflesia

Rafflesia I

Juin With Rafflesia

http://picasaweb.google.com/juinyin/CameronHighlands/photo#5147355288144311458

Close up Photo from kinabalu

2008-03-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

The largest flower in the world .. the Rafflesia flower.. as seen in the rainforest.

I took this picture at Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia in 2004.

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/mcyyue/

From Photographer Julian W

2008-03-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

Name: Julian W.
Type of photographer: Professional
Equipment: Sony Alpha 100, Hasselblad Xpan-II, Nikon D2X, F5 and F100

Spanning about a meter across, the Rafflesia is the largest flower in the world. I employed a low-angle approach which made it more "interpersonal" with the subject and used a wide-angle lens to frame this shot.
Equipment: Nikon F100 with 18-35mm lens; Fujifilm Velvia ISO 50; F11 at 4 seconds

WORLD OLD NATURE

2008-03-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

WORLD OLD NATURE

The massive forests in Malaysia, peaceful and tranquil, have been developed for recreational purposes, as an antidote to the worn out souls. The verdant, shady trees that smother the land on the forests create a relaxing sensation, a feeling that many would want to experience These forests have the capability of holding hundreds of flora and fauna species, creating a diverse ecology deep in the greenery. This just does not end here

http://myfreefact.blogspot.com/

Photo of Rafflesia sp

2008-03-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia sp. (LUZON)

The Best Photo of Rafflesia Mira

2008-03-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

R. mira (MINDANAO)

Photo of Rafflesia Baletei

2008-03-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

R. baletei (LUZON)

Photo of Rafflesia schadenbergiana

2008-03-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Mindanao, PHILIPPINES

R. schadenbergiana Göppert HABITAT (margin of slash-and-burn area)

R. schadenbergiana Göppert BUD

R. schadenbergiana Göppert REDISCOVERED!!!

Julie F. Barcelona w/ R. schadenbergiana (CENTRAL MINDANAO)

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Göppert REDISCOVERED!!! (CENTRAL MINDANAO)

R. schadenbergiana Göppert FRUIT (CENTRAL MINDANAO)

Rafflesia schadenbergiana DEVELOPING FRUIT

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Mindanao, PHILIPPINES

J.F. Barcelona next to Rafflesia schadenbergiana Mindanao, PHILIPPINES

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Mindanao, PHILIPPINES

Rafflesia schadenbergiana HABITAT as of 16 Nov. 2007

Rafflesia schadenbergiana CORRALED HABITAT as of 16 Nov. 2007

Rafflesia schadenbergiana HABITAT as of 16 Nov. 2007

Rafflesia schadenbergiana PEGGED BU

Photo of Rafflesia Manillana

2008-03-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

R. manillana (LUZON)

J.F. Barcelona & D.S. Balete gathering data on R. manillana (Luzon)

Julie F. Barcelona w/ R. manillana (LUZON)

R. manillana (female) (LUZON)

R. manillana (male) (LUZON)

Julie F. Barcelona w/ Rafflesia manillana (LUZON, 2006)

R. manillana (LUZON)

Pieter Pelser w/ R. manillana (LUZON)

R. manillana w/ pollinators

http://picasaweb.google.com/barceljf/PhilippineRafflesia/photo#5064422557651570898

Photo of Rafflesia Speciosa

2008-03-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

R. speciosa (Antique Prov., PANAY I.)

Julie F. Barcelona w/ R. speciosa (Antique, PANAY I.)

Julie & Pieter with R. speciosa (Antique Prov., Panay I., 2006)

The Pelser brothers w/ R. speciosa (Antique Prov., Panay I., 2006))

The Antique Outdoor (TAO) members, discovered R. speciosa in 2001

R. speciosa (Antique Prov., PANAY I.)

R. speciosa pollinator with pollen on the back

R. speciosa (Antique Prov., PANAY I.)

R. speciosa at the altar (Pelser & Barcelona Nuptial, 23 Dec. 2006)

R. speciosa? along the church aisle (Pelser & Barcelona Nuptial, 23 Dec. 2006)

R. speciosa at the pulpit (Pelser & Barcelona Nuptial, 23 Dec. 2006

http://picasaweb.google.com/barceljf/PhilippineRafflesia/photo#5063496425263599330

The Corpse Flower

2008-03-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Corpse Flower

My fascination for flowers appears to have been present for as long as I can remember, and this allurement was reinforced when my family and I lived in a rural, or rather, pristine setting for several years during my childhood.

The place seemed enchanted and one of my fondest memories was getting “lost” under giant trees and wandering off farther than the boundaries my parents were comfortable with. Aside from standing still to let a snake pass me "unnoticed" and allowing him to demonstrate his sense of humour by slithering its way over my foot, there was also something else in those excursions that I looked forward to… and because I was only a child, the seemingly tall-tales of my expeditions were too incredible for adult ears that sometimes it was better to withhold tales of my secret adventures. It was more exciting in that manner anyway.

One of the outlandish stories was about the giant flower. I was a little girl so I could claim that the single flower that magically sprung annually at the feet of the tall trees was this big; *stretches arms wide* The mysterious thing about it was that when I came back for it the next day, it was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it withered like those short-lived midnight flowers, or perhaps I wandered in the wrong direction, but I only saw it for only a day, once a year.

Circa twenty years later, I read about the Rafflesia and searched for photos… when eureka! The flowers in the photos had the same burgundy and velvety petals that were enormous enough to only exist in fairy tale forests.

Why all of a sudden I recall this account? Valentine’s Day. Its huge petals of deceiving vivid colours that attract so many but when you come very close to it, it has this stench of pagan origin, that superficially beautiful as it is, it is not worthy of symbolizing Love. No, not even this close... *presses thumb and pointer together tightly* …and like the flowers we receive on Valentine’s Day, we cannot preserve or prolong their blooming forever as much as we want to. The next day will be just another wilting day, and what’s left of it will be but a mere memory… and perhaps a few browning petals preserved in a book. *sigh* Love… we can do better than carelessly commemorate or confine it for only a day, once a year.

From Wikipedia:
Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It was discovered in the Indonesian rain forest by an Indonesian guide working for Dr. Joseph Arnold in 1818, and named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition. It contains approximately 26 species (including four incompletely characterized species as recognized by Meijer 1997), all found in southeastern Asia, on the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra and Kalimantan, West Malaysia, and the Philippines. The plant has no stems, leaves or true roots. It is an endoparasite of vines in the genus Tetrastigma (Vitaceae), spreading its root-like haustoriaflower. In some species, such as Rafflesia arnoldii, the flower may be over 100 cm in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kg. Even the smallest species, R. manillana, has 20 cm diameter flowers. The flowers look and smell like rotting meat, hence its local names which translate to "corpse flower" or "meat flower" (but see below). The vile smell that the flower gives off attracts insects such as carrion flies, which transport pollen from male to female flowers. Little is known about seed dispersal, however, tree shrews and other forest mammals apparently eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. Rafflesia is an official state flower of Sabah in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province, Thailand. inside the tissue of the vine. The only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petaled flower. In some species, such as Rafflesia arnoldii, the flower may be over 100 cm in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kg. Even the smallest species, R. manillana, has 20 cm diameter flowers. The flowers look and smell like rotting meat, hence its local names which translate to "corpse flower" or "meat flower" (but see below). The vile smell that the flower gives off attracts insects such as carrion flies, which transport pollen from male to female flowers. Little is known about seed dispersal, however, tree shrews and other forest mammals apparently eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. Rafflesia is an official state flower of Sabah in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

The name "corpse flower" applied to Rafflesia is confusing because this common name also refers to the Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) of the family Araceae. Moreover, because Amorphophallus has the world's largest unbranched inflorescence, it is sometimes mistakenly credited as having the world's largest flower. Both Rafflesia and Amorphophallus are flowering plants, but they are still distantly related. Rafflesia arnoldii has the largest single flower of any flowering plant, at least when one judges this by weight. Amorphophallus titanum has the largest unbranched inflorescence, while the Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) forms the largest branched inflorescence, containing thousands of flowers; this plant is monocarpic, meaning that individuals die after flowering.
Philippine Species:
Since 2002 there has been a tremendous amount of activity by Filipino scientists who have discovered and named several new species of Rafflesia. Before this time there were two species known: R. manillana and R. schadenbergiana, the latter of which was last seen in 1882 on Mt. Apo in Davao Province on Mindanao Island, but was thought to be extinct.

“What’s new?”
When confronted with this question from someone who I was romantically linked with a decade ago as remnant red hues of Valentine’s faded yesterday, I was tempted to say “nothing much.” But that would have been lying. So I answered, “there’s always something new and changing about me, but there’s also a little girl inside that’s constant…” and when he sighed in relief because it was the little girl he fell in love with in the first place, I smiled.
The conversation did not mean that I ended up with someone overnight, for I believe we are in love with different people now, but it is a nice reminder that in my core, there’s an unchanging little girl, and no matter how much I try new things or struggle to “improve” as an adult, musically, mentally, or emotionally, the innocent little girl is capable of being loved without all the perks of being a “woman”.
After all, isn’t it the heart and faith of a little child that God looks for in us?

http://glizzando.blogs.friendster.com/meewa/2008/02/rafflesia.html

The world's largest flower, now blooming at Sibalom Natural Park in Antique

2008-03-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

The largest flower
Posted on 27 February, 2005 - 4:46am.

The world's largest flower, now blooming at Sibalom Natural Park in Antique

by Art Fuentes

To see the world’s largest flower for the first time is to encounter a life form so strange, it makes you wonder if you’re in the presence of something from a different planet or era. The Rafflesia is completely unlike any bloom you have ever seen, or for that matter will ever see.

The flower exists, without the usual parts we have come to associate with flowers, or even plants—no stem, no branch, not even leaves. Then there is also the matter of its size which ranges in diameter from a cabbage head to a car tire. The Rafflesia is the veritable T-Rex of the world of blossoms. And because of all its strangeness, the Rafflesia is an awe to behold.

What is the Rafflesia?
The flower is named after its European discoverer Thomas Stamford Raffles. First discovered in Sumatra in 1818, twenty Rafflesia species have been found so far in different parts of Southeast Asia. Many of the species are extremely rare, and have been recorded from only a handful of localities.

The flower is actually a parasite. It grows within its host, the tetrastigma vine, and in its early stages appears as but a tangle of fibers. It only starts manifesting itself during its reproductive cycle. Outgrowths appear on the root vine (1), then cabbage-like buds develop (2), then a fully open flower blooms (3) and bears fruit. The flowers themselves take a long time to develop.

From the time the bud appears, it can take 9-10 months for the flower to bloom. Not all buds bloom into flowers, a lot of buds decay before they can even open. Too much rain causes the buds to rot, while too little rain causes them to shrivel up and dry.

Lifecycle
Each flower is either male or female. Female flowers are rare, and of these, fewer still are fertilized. The flowering episode itself is brief, and will last no more than a couple of days. Once in bloom, the flower releases a putrid scent that attracts flies and other insects that serve to pollinate it. For a female flower to get pollinated, a male flower must be nearby and also in bloom.
After a period of 3-5 days, whether or not they are successful at pollination, the flowers begin to wither and turn black. If the female flower was successfully pollinated, it will bear fruits that get buried somewhere near the bottom, waiting to be picked up by forest rats, insects or other animals. Finally, for the seeds to form another bloom, they need to find their way to the right kind of vine.

Despite significant scientific research, many aspects of the Rafflesia’s biology have yet to be figured out. We still do not know how its seeds germinate and grow and we have no idea why the Rafflesia associates itself with the tetrastigma vine.

Uroy
There are currently three known species of the flower here in the Philippines. Rafflesia manillana can be found in Luzon, most prominently in Mt. Makiling in Laguna and Mt. Isarog in Bicol. The second species—Rafflesia schadenbergiana, was discovered in Mt. Apo in Mindanao in 1882, but has since never again been seen. It is probably already extinct.

Pictures from Haribon Philippines:

Sibalom Natural Park, Antique- home of the newest largest flower

The third Philippine species of the flower can be found in Southern Panay. Named Rafflesia species novum, it also the newest species of the giant flower to be discovered. Locally known as uroy, the Rafflesia has long been familiar to the residents of Mt. Porras in the towns of Sibalom and San Remegio, Antique. However, it was only in 2002 that the uroy was confirmed to be a distinct species. The newly-established Sibalom Natural Park quickly adopted the new Rafflesia species as its flagship attraction.

The discovery of the new Rafflesia species caused a sensation in the province of Antique. The discovery was reported in both the national and local dailies. A lot of visitors trooped to Sibalom Natural Park to see the giant flowers.

The uroy has great potential to be a major ecotourist attraction for the Sibalom Natural Park. However, steps must be taken to protect the flower from being overwhelmed by the influx of sightseers.

What are the threats to this species?
The Rafflesia is obviously a very sensitive living thing. The survival of the plant depends on a lot of factors—the seeds need to find the right host, the buds need to receive the right amount of water and nutrients, and flowers of the opposite sex must be near by so that pollination can occur.

In Malaysia, where the flowers have been star attractions in natural parks for years, park authorities have instituted measures to minimize the impact of tourism on the survival of the flowers. They found that a lot of buds failed to bloom when disturbed. Efforts at cultivating the flower have also met little success.

While ecotourism must be carefully controlled, by far the most significant threat to the Rafflesia is the destruction of its habitat. The Rafflesia depends on the rainforest to survive. Across the Philippines, rainforests are being felled due to logging, mining, and the conversion of forest lands for commercial and residential uses. If these forests are destroyed, the Rafflesia may also cease to exist—along with other unique and irreplaceable Philippine flora and fauna.

http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t70747.html

Die Rafflesia – bestimmt keine F

2008-03-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Auf den Philippinen wächst - sehr vereinzelt - eine eigenartige, rätselhafte Blume, bei der man sich fragen kann, ob es überhaupt eine Blume ist. Sie hat keinen Stiehl, keine Äste, keine Blätter und keinen auf Chlorophyll-Einlagerungen basierenden Stoffwechsel. Dennoch wird sie den Blütenpflanzen zugeordnet.

Ihre größte Art – die insbesondere in Malaysia und Indonesien beheimatete Rafflesia arnoldii – darf zudem noch in Anspruch nehmen, mit einem Blütendurchmesser bis zu einem Meter und einem Gewicht von bis zu elf Kilogramm die größte Blume der Welt zu sein. Man kennt in Südostasien über zwanzig Arten; ihr Durchmesser kann die eines Kohlkopfes oder aber auch eines Autoreifens erreichen. Es sind insbesondere die kleineren Arten, die sich hin und wieder in den philippinischen Bergwäldern finden.

Charakteristisch für die Pflanze sind die fünf, zumeist rot-braun gefärbte Blütenblätter. Sie sind bis zu drei Zentimeter dick, bis zu 45 Zentimeter lang und können Sprenkelungen und kremfarbige Warzen aufweisen. In der Mitte der Pflanze in einer Art Wanne finden sich unterhalb einer Scheibe die Sexualorgane der Pflanze. Es gibt männliche und weibliche Pflanzen.

Die Rafflesia ist eine parasitäre Pflanze, die ihren Wirt jedoch nicht absterben lässt. Sie benötigt für ihr Wachstum eine spezielle Wirtspflanze, die am Boden von Regenwäldern wuchernde, leicht verholzte Tetrastigma-Rebe. In ihrem Wurzelwerk sind zunächst die Gewebefäden der Rafflesia längere Zeit eingeschlossen. Sichtbar wird die Pflanze erst, wenn der Blütenansatz zu knospen beginnt. Es können nun neun bis zehn Monate vergehen, bis sich aus der Knospe die Blüte entwickelt. Nur etwa 10 – 20 Prozent der Knospen entwickeln sich zu Blüten. Regnet es zuviel, verfault die Knospe. Regnet es zu wenig, trocknet sie aus.

Entwickelt sich im günstigen Fall die Knospe zur Blüte, so hält diese lediglich vier bis sieben Tage an und zerfällt dann in einer amorphen, schleimig-schwärzlichen Masse. Die Blüte stinkt nach verfaulendem Fleisch oder - wie auch einmal formuliert wurde - nach „Büffelscheiße“. In Malaysia wird sie auch „corpse-flower“ (Leichen-Blume) genannt. Durch ihren Geruch lockt die Pflanze Fliegen und andere Insekten an, die den männlichen Pollen zu weiblichen Pflanzen tragen. Nach der Befruchtung entwickeln sich Samen, die dann vielleicht von Ratten, Insekten und anderen Tieren gefressen werden und an der Wirtsrebe abgelegt werden. Ein neuer Lebenszyklus setzt ein.

Aus dem Gesagten wird schon klar, dass die Rafflesia außerordentlich schwierige Wachstumsbedingungen hat:

Sie ist auf eine spezielle Wirtsrebe angewiesen, die aber bei Waldrodungen oft als erste entfernt wird.

Nur ein geringer Anteil der Knospen entwickelt sich zur Blüte, die nur sehr kurze Zeit anhält

Es überwiegen männliche Blüten. Weibliche Blüten sind weitaus seltener.

Die Transportwege für Pollen und Samen sind vom Zufall abhängig und setzen weitgehend geschlossene Waldgebiete voraus.

Die Auffälligkeit und Seltenheit der Blume spricht in besonderem Maße die menschliche Neugierde und damit auch Manipulations- und Zerstörungsabsichten an.

So nimmt es nicht Wunder, dass der Fund einer Rafflesia auch auf den Philippinen große Überraschung auslöst. So ist im Jahre 2001 in der Provinz Antique (Tugbok District) eine zur Osterzeit auf einem Bauplatz plötzlich entdeckte Rafflesia sogar zum Objekt religiöser Verehrung geworden, der zu Ehren man Kerzen anzündete ⁽¹⁾. Findet man gar eine neue Art, so kommt dies schon einer Sensation nahe.

Die Riesen-Rafflesia (Rafflesia arnoldii, siehe oben) wurde 1818 erstmals für auf Sumatra von Thomas Stamford Raffles und Joseph Arnold für die Biologie entdeckt, von dem die Gattung dann auch ihren Namen erhielt. Seitdem hat man - wie gesagt - mehr als zwanzig Arten in Südostasien entdeckt. Wie viele Arten hiervon auf den Philippinen anzutreffen sind, ist gar nicht einfach auszumachen. Wegen der Ähnlichkeit der Pflanzen muss zur genaueren Artenbestimmung oft ein Spezialinstitut für Pflanzen-Taxinomie in den Niederlanden bemüht werden. Unsere Literatur-Recherche ergibt vier noch vorfindbare, als eigene Art anerkannte Art-Varianten.

Die „Rafflesia schadenbergiana“ mit einem Durchmesser von ca. achtzig Zentimeter wurde 1882 auf dem Mount Apo von den beiden Deutschen Schadenberg und Göppert⁽²⁾ entdeckt und beschrieben. Diese Rafflesia-Art gilt mittlerweile als ausgestorben, man konnte sie trotz intensiver Recherche seit ihrer Erstentdeckung nicht mehr finden.

Von dem Engländer Teschemacher wurde im 19. Jahrhundert die „Rafflesia Manilla“ entdeckt. Sie hat einen Blüten-Durchmesser von 15–20 Zentimeter und wird nur etwa sieben bis neun Zentimeter hoch. Ihre Blütenblätter erreichen eine Länge von 6–7 Zentimetern und ist damit die kleinste Rafflesia. Man kann sie in Luzon (Mount Makiling und Mount Isarog), in Leyte und auf Samar vorfinden. Sie steht auf der Roten Liste der geschützten Pflanzen.

Eine dritte Art – die „Rafflesia speciosa“ (Tagalog: „Uroy“) wurde erst 2002 von den philippinischen Biologen Barcelona und Fernando im Süden von Panay (Mount Poras) entdeckt. Die rostig-braune mit weißlichen Warzen besetzte Blüte erreicht einen Durchmesser von ca. fünfzig Zentimeter und ist etwa 15 Zentimeter hoch. Sie ist die Vorzeige-Blume im neu errichteten Nationalpark Sibalom Natural Park.

Relativ ähnlich in Aufbau und Größe ist die 2005 von Fernando und Ong in Campostela Valley Province (Mindanao) entdeckte „Rafflesia mira“. Gegenüber der speciosa-Art unterscheidet sie sich primär durch die Warzenmusterung und –verteilung.

Wiederum im Compostela Valley (Mindanao) hat man Ende 2005 vermutlich eine andere neue Art ausgemacht. Den genauen Fundort will man der Öffentlichkeit nicht preisgeben⁽³⁾ . Man hat ihr den Namen „Rafflesia magnifica“ gegeben. Diese Rafflesia-Variante, deren Umfang mit 60 -70 cm angegeben wird, ist als neue Art offenbar bislang noch nicht anerkannt worden.

Ein Bergsteiger fand schließlich 2006 auf dem Berg Asog (Irriga City), die etwa 13 cm große „Rafflesia irigaense“⁽⁴⁾. Sie ist als weitere Art mittlerweile bestätigt worden. Die Stadtverwaltung von Irriga City will den Fundort der Pflanze nicht vor der Öffentlichkeit verstecken. Schon träumt sie davon, dass die Pflanze zum Touristen-Anziehungspunkt werden könne. Zumindest hat man die Pflanze jetzt schon einmal mit einer Umzäunung geschützt.

Von Einheimischen wird mitunter behauptet, dass mit einem Blüten-Extrakt Unterleibsschmerzen bekämpfen könne. Für eine wirtschaftliche Direkt-Verwertung ist die Blume jedoch in der freien Natur viel zu selten. Aber vielleicht gerät die Blume doch noch ins Visier der Genjäger und Gen-Synthetisierer.

In der Frage, ob man im Rahmen eines Öko-Tourismus Rafflesia-Blumen zur Schau stellen kann, gehen die Meinungen auf den Philippinen auseinander. Wirtschaftliche Tourismus-Interessen liegen hier im Widerstreit mit denen eines verstärkten Naturschutzes.

(1) Romeo Braceros Jr., World’s ‘biggest’- strange-looking flower emits foul smell; stirs people, Mindanao Times News, 06.04.2001

(2) Schadenberg ein aus Breslau eingewanderter und – wie sein bekannterer Berufskollege Zobel – ein in Manila praktizierender Apotheker. Er berichtete über seine Entdeckung in einer spanischen Fachzeitschrift. Der Artikel wurde später von Blumentritt ins Deutsche übertragen.

(3) Juan Escandor Jr., Rare flower opens tourism opportunities for Iriga, in: Philippine Daily Inquirer, 06.03.2006

(4) Charles Buban, Rare flower found, in: http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=56167

RAFFLESIA

2008-03-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

RAFFLESIA
Rafflesia sp.
A species of the world’s largest flower

One interesting bloom in the world of flora is the Rafflesia. This flower grows as big as a cabbage head or a car tire. Aside from being unusually huge, this species is actually a parasite, growing within its host, the tetrastigma vine. Discovery of this rare plant first occurred in Sumatra in 1818, courtesy of European Thomas Stamford Raffles after whom the flower was named. Here in the Philippines, currently identified species of the Rafflesia are: R. schadenbergiana, R. manillana, R. speciosa and R. mira.

R. schadenbergiana was discovered by Gopert in Mt. Apo in Mindanao in 1882. However, said species was never seen again and thus presumed to be already extinct. R. manillana - discovered by Teschemacher - can be found in Luzon, most prominently in Mt. Makiling, Laguna and in Mt. Isarog, Bicol. R. speciosa was discovered in 2002 by Barcelona and Fernando. The species, locally known as “Uroy,” can be found in the towns of Sibalom and San Remegio, Antique. Meantime, R. mira was discovered by Filipino scientists led by Fernando and Ong in the town of Maragusan, Campostela Valley Province in Mindanao.

The Rafflesia is a very sensitive living thing. Threats to its existence include rampant deforestation, mining and encroachment of communities.

http://www.haribon.org.ph/?q=node/view/352

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Göppert

2008-03-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Göppert

This species was originally collected on the island of Mindanao (Mt. Apo) in the Philippines in 1882 (type attributed to either Hieronymus (Meijer, 1997; Nais, 2001) or Schadenberg and Koch (Merrill, 1923). Despite concerted efforts by field botanists, R. schadenbergiana had not been seen and was presumed extinct. Previous reports of R. schadenbergiana on Mt. Matutum (e.g. Nais, 2001) are erroneous (J. Barcelona, pers. comm.). A bud from Mt. Matutum examined at the Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon Province in 2002 represents a small-sized Rafflesia, too deteriorated for proper identification.

After 112 years since it was first discovered by the German ethnologist Schadenberg, R. schadenbergiana, was rediscovered on the island of Mindanao. In 1994 Pascal Lays found buds of R. schadenbergiana in South Cotabato Province on the island of Mindanao. His paper reporting this result has only recently been published. Moreover, Dr. Julie Barcelona reports on the discovery of yet another population of this rare species in Bukidnon (Flora Malesiana Bulletin, submitted; see also Julie's webpage HERE).

The morphological features of these flowers fit well with the original descriptions of this species (see below). Moreover, this is the largest flower among all the species of Rafflesia present in the Philippines, ranging from 52 to 70 cm in diameter. For these reasons, there is little doubt that this taxon is R. schadenbergiana. The Bukidnon "population" contains several buds, flowers, and fruits, but all are apparently parasitic on a single individual of the host vine Tetrastigma. For this reason, these plants are under extreme threat of extinction and concerted conservation efforts are required to maintain them for future generations.

Julie Barcelona next to an open Rafflesia schadenbergiana flower and an unopened bud.

The habitat of Rafflesia schadenbergiana near an agricultural area. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

A fully open Rafflesia schadenbergiana flower. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

The next generation upon whom the survival of this magnificent species depends. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

Two photos of the bud discovered in 1994 by Pascal Lays in South Cotabato Province on the island of Mindanao.

Description translated from the original German text (Koorders 1918) by Vanessa Ashworth

Warts of the perigone lobes medium sized, bumpy, often coalescing in a reticulate pattern. Perigone tube and the interior surface of the diaphragm covered almost to the margins with filiform ramenta with somewhat club-shaped swollen endings. A single annulus [coronal ring] protruding diagonally outward; the outer one represented by a level ring zone that is devoid of ramenta. Disc similar to previous species [R. hasseltii], as is the position of anthers in the male flower. Disc edge densely short-hairy above the anthers, as is the entire column. Anther cavities very flat, not extending half way down the column width, recessed on the upper side; ridges between them [the anther cavities] here narrow and pubescent at the edge. In the female flower the stigmatic ring forms a weak outer ridge; indented in front of the anther rudiments. Below each one of these [rudiments] there is a shallow area surrounded by hairs which is the rudiment of the anther cavity; column otherwise flat and everywhere short-hairy.

Description From Flora Malesiana treatment (W. Meijer, 1997)

Flower buds prior to expansion 16-20 cm in diameter, cupule 10-14 cm in diameter, bracts up to 17-18 cm long, 12-13 cm wide. Open flower about 80 cm in diameter. Ramenta on the inside of the flower tube 7-10 mm long, filiform, somewhat thickened at the apex, or branched, partly in fascicles. Diaphragm 6-8 cm from insertion to opening, opening 13-14 cm in diameter, margin with pinkish zone, lower face except the marginal zone provided with ramenta ca. 4-5 mm long. Perigone lobes 25-26 cm in diameter, with yellowish whitish warts which are laterally stretched, irregularly shaped, partly connected and about 4 or 5 [in number] across the middle part. Disk 12-13 cm in diameter, processes 30-50. Male flowers with 26-38 (-40) anthers.

SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Rafflesiaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.schad.page.html
Last updated: 15-Sept-07 / dln

Rafflesia banahawensis Madulid, Villariba-Tolentino & Agoo

2008-03-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia banahawensis Madulid, Villariba-Tolentino & Agoo

This Rafflesia species is named after the mountain, Mt. Bahahaw in Luzon, Philippines, where it was first discovered.

Known from only five locations on Mt. Banahaw on Luzon, this species grows on Tetrastigma roots at or below the ground level. It is one of the small-flowered Rafflesia species, with floral diameters ranging from 17 to 27 cm. It most resembles R. baletei from the Bicol region, Camarines Sur Province in southern Luzon. It differs from that species in several morphological features such as wart ornamentation, the color and density of the processes, and ramenta grouping inside the diaphragm.

Two papers were published for the same taxon. The first was:

Madulid, D. A., C. Villariba-Tolentino, and E. M. G. Agoo. 2006. Rafflesia banahawensis (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Luzon, Philippines. Philippine Scientist 43: 43-51.

The second paper was:

Barcelona, J. F., P. B. Pelser, and M. O. Cajano. 2007. Rafflesia banahaw (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Luzon, Philippines. Blumea 52: 345-350.

Newly opened male flower. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

Diaphragm opening through which is visible the processes that top the disk. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

Column (neck at top, cut in cross section) inverted, looking down at anthers below the disk corona. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

Longitudinal section of male floral bud. Photo by Julie Barcelona.

SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Rafflesiaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.banahaw.page.html
Last updated: 13-Nov-07 / dln

Stamps of Rafflesiaceae From Thailand

2008-03-27T01:38:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Stamps of Rafflesiaceae From Thailand

Dr CY Choong presented me with two absolutely gorgeous stamps below, from Thailand that features Rafflesia kerrii and Sapria poilanei. Why can't Malaysian postal service issue the same Malaysian species?

http://rafflesiamalesia.blogspot.com/2007/04/stamps-of-rafflesiaceae-from-thailand.html

Rafflesia Rochussenii

2008-03-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia Rochussenii

Rafflesia rochussenii oleh sebagian ilmuan pernah dianggap telah punah, karena sudah lama tidak ditemukan lagi (publikasi terakhir tahun 1941 oleh Van Stenis). Namun pada bulan Juni 1990, berhasil ditemukan kembali dalam bentuk bunga mekar sempurna oleh Lawalata IPB di Gunung Salak pada ketinggian 1.350 m dpl.

Temuan tersebut ditindak lanjuti dengan penelitian dari bulan Agustus 1990 hingga bulan Januari 1991. dari hasil pengamatan dapat diduga bahwa usia siklus hidup Rafflesia rochussenii 2,5 tahun dengan rincian : kuncup pertama sampai bunga mekar 739 hari, bunga mulai mekar hingga mekar sempurna 35 hari, bunga mekar hingga layu 7 hari, bunga layu hingga biji masak 133 hari (Zuhud, et al., 1994).

Pertumbuhan rata–rata kuncup Rafflesia rochussenii adalah 0,017 cm per hari, namun sebenarnya pertumbuhan itu tidak selalu sama pada tiap individu kuncup, begitu juga pertumbuhan itu tidak konstan, semakin besar kuncup maka laju pertumbuhan diameternya semakin lambat. Berdasarkan pengamatan diketahui bahwa satu batang Tetrastigma lanceolarium ditumbuhi berkisar 0 – 18 individu Rafflesia rochussenii dan tumbuh pada akar dengan diameter 0,5 – 2,5 cm yaitu akar yang tersebar banyak dilapisan tanah teratas, sehingga lebih banyak kemungkinan bagi biji Rafflesia rochussenii terinfeksi ke jaringan perakaran Tetrastigma lanceolarium (Zuhud et al, 1994)

Rafflesia rochussenii diduga termasuk salah satu jenis Rafflesia yang terlangka. Diantara 3 jenis Rafflesia yang ditemukan di Jawa yang inilah yang jarang diberitakan. Bunganya berwarna merah tua sampai ungu kecoklatan dengan bintil–bintil kecil dipermukaan atas permukaan atas perhiasan bunganya. Ketika mekar penuh dimater bunganya antara 14 – 30 cm. puncak poros bunganya mendatar seperti piring dengan atau tanpa tepian yang menarik perlahan. Cuatan bunga pada diskus tidak ada, jika ada hanya berkisar antara 1 – 8 buah berbentuk seperti kerucut lebar setinggi 3 – 7 mm. bau busuk hampir tidak tercium dari bunganya.

Kondisi ekologis dari Rafflesia rochussenii dapat diklasifikasikan sebagai berikut : Jenis tanah cenderung memiliki konsistensi tanah lunak dan gembur, tidak terlalu lembab dan suhu rata–rata 20 ˚C. pH tanah masam hingga agak masam; kandungan unsur N dan C tanah relatif tinggi sedangkan kandungan P. Ca dan Mg tanah relatif rendah,. Serat kandungan K dan Na relatif sedang.

Vegetasi paling dominan untuk tingkat pohon pada habitat Rafflesia rochussenii adalah Altingia excelsa, Schima wallichii, sedangkan untuk tumbuhan bahwa didominasi oleh Cycas rumphii.

Hewan penyerbuk pada Rafflesia rochussenii yang sedang mekar diduga spesies lalat hijau (Lucilia sp), lalat abu–abu (Sarcophaga sp dan lalat buah (Drosophila melanogaster). Selain lalat ditemukan pula semut merah dan hitam yang termasuk ke dalam organ bunga. Hewan penyebar biji diduga dari spesies hewan berkuku seperti landak (Histix brachyura), tupai (Tupaia glis), babi hutan (Sus scfofa), lunak (Paraxurus hermaproditus) dan dari spesies serangga, seperti rayap tanah (Macrotermes sp) dan semut (Polyergus sp).

Ancaman kelestarian dari Rafflesia rochussenii berdasarkan pengamatan, faktor yang utama adalah faktor manusia yaitu terjadinya kerusakan habitat dan matinya tumbuhan inang, akibat adanya penebangan dan penyaradan kayu curian oleh masyarakat dan lebih parah lagi ada populasi kuncup Rafflesia rochussenii yang mati akibat kegiatan ini. Untuk kelesatarian spesies yang sangat langka ini, maka kawasan ini mutlak dilindungi, sebagai kawasan Suaka Alam Flora Langka Rafflesia rochussenii (Zuhud et al., 1994)

Photo of Rafflesia Gadutensis

2008-03-27T00:37:00.001-07:00

http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/images/Raff.gadutensis2.jpg

Rafflesia Tuan-Mudae photo by Michael Lo

2008-03-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Posted 4 dec 2007

The largest flower - Rafflesia

Rafflesia is the largest flower on earth. It can be found in tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia. There are 9 species of Rafflesia in Borneo island:

(1) R. arnoldii
(2) R. borneensis
(3) R. ciliata
(4) R. hasseltii
(5) R. keithii
(6) R. pricei
(7) R. tengku-adlinii
(8) R. tuan-mudae
(9) R. witkampii

The Rafflesia which I photographed is Rafflesia tuan-mudae which is named after Charles Brooke of Sarawak. Charles Brooke was the tuan muda of Sarawak before he became the Rajah (King) of Sarawak, long time ago.

Rafflesia is a parasite which grow on the vines of Tetrastigma.

2 buds on the ground:

The flower bud on the vine; above the ground:

http://www.ibanorum.netfirms.com/rafflesia2007.htm

Photo Of Rafflesia Rochussenii

2008-03-27T00:20:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia rochussenii Teijsm. & Binnend.

The following two photographs were presented in an article by Harry Wiriadinata (email: herbogor@indo.net.id) and Suwito Alamin "Voice of Nature" (ISSN No 0216-4177) Vol.84, Aug. 1990, page 14. The two photos below were taken on Mt. Salak, Western Java, near Bogor, June 6, 1990 (by a Javanese student).

This flower (past prime) was photographed by Harry Wiriadinata (Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia). The photograph was donated by Anna Marika Bendiksby.

SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Rafflesiaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Rafflesiaceae/Raff.roch.page.html
Last updated:20-Jun-06 / dln

Rafflesia arnoldii

2008-03-27T00:09:00.000-07:00

Rafflesia arnoldii

Rafflesia arnoldii is a member of the genus Rafflesia. It is noted for producing the largest individual flower on earth. There are some plants with larger flowering organs, Amorphophallus for example, but these are technically clusters of many flowers. It occurs only in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesia Archipelago.

from Wikipedia

Several species of Rafflesia grow in the jungles of southeast Asia, many of them threatened or endangered. Rafflesia arnoldii is the largest; its flower attains a diameter of nearly a meter and can weigh up to 11 kilograms. Not only is it the world's largest flower, but it is also one of the most bizarre and improbable organisms on the planet.

It lives as a parasite on the Tetrastigma vine, as its host, which grows only in primary (undisturbed) rainforests. While many parasites appear like normal plants, Rafflesia lacks any observable leaves, roots, or even stems. Likened to fungi, Rafflesia individuals grow as thread-like strands of tissue completely embedded within and in intimate contact with surrounding host cells from which nutrients and water are obtained. Perhaps the only part of Rafflesia that is identifiable as distinctly plant-like are the flowers; although, even these are bizarre because they attain massive proportions and are usually reddish-brown and stink of rotting flesh. The flower is pollinated by flies attracted by its scent.

Rafflesia arnoldii is rare and fairly hard to locate. It is especially difficult to see in flower; the buds take many months to develop and the flower lasts for just a few days. How many of these strange plants still survive is unknown, but as the remaining primary forests of Borneo and Sumatra disappear, it can only be assumed that their numbers are dwindling. Many are known to be nearing extinction. Some environmentalists are thinking of a way to recreate the species' environment, in an effort to stimulate a recovery in the population of this endangered species. This has proved unsuccessful so far, but the efforts are still there.

Pollination is a rare event due to several factors. The flowers are unisexual and single sites usually produce either male or female flowers. Therefore, in order to have effective pollination, male flowers must be in close proximity to, and open at the same time, as the female flowers so that flies can transfer the pollen.

While male and female individuals could be closely spaced, flower bud mortality is 80-90% per site thereby reducing the chance of co-flowering two individuals. Furthermore, the flower lifespan is only 5-7 days. Also, the current population distributions are fragmented due to habitat destruction. So, successful reproduction relies on the unlikely even that a male and female would bloom during the same 5-7 days and that a fly could carry pollen between the often widely separated populations.

Although technically a member of the plant kingdom, Rafflesia arnoldii challenges traditional definitions of what a plant is because it lacks chlorophyll and is therefore incapable of photosynthesis (as are all members of its family, Rafflesiaceae).

=================

The rafflesia is an interesting flower, and not just because of its large size,
almost 1 meter in diameter. Unlike most plants it does not make its own food. It
is a parasite which grows inside a species of grape vine in Malaysia and
Indonesia. Only the flowers come to the outside. The flower smells like
rotting meat to attract flies. The flies carry pollen from the male flower to
the female flower. The female flower produces many, many tiny black seeds,
which is good because the chances of landing in a suitable site to grow (on a
vine of the right kind) are small.

You can find botanical information on the Rafflesia family in Watson and
Dallwitz "The Families of Flowering Plants" at http://www.keil.ukans.edu/delta/
angio/www/rafflesi.htm this site.

You can visit via the internet a place (with pictures) where research is done on
rafflesia at http://www.fsh.ukm.my/fsh/dept/bb/raff/raffles.htm this site.

http://www.babasgarden.net/2006/08/rafflesia_arnoldii.html

Scene of Rafflesia Tuan Mudae Blooming

2008-03-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

A bud of Rafflesia tuan-mudae one day before blooming

Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower starting to bloom, taken at 11pm

Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower starting to bloom, taken at 3am

Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower starting to bloom, taken at 9am

Rafflesia tuan-mudae

Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower

Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower in bloom

Rafflesia tuan-mudae in lowland rainforest

Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower starting to wilt

A dead flower of Rafflesia tuan-mudae

Rafflesia Tuan Mudae from Sarawak Malaysia
http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxonimage/id2276/?taxonid=62954

Rediscovery Rafflesia spp

Rafflesia Zollingeriana bloom

Rafflesia schadenbegiana

Rafflesia baletei, another new Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from the Philippines

Rafflesia Arnoldi

Seeing in Rafflesia Arnoldi

the giant rafflesia flower

Rafflesias from www.flickr.com

Rafflesia cantleyi

Largest Flower - Rafflesia

Largest Flower - Rafflesia

Facts About Rafflesia

Southern Thailand 2007/08

Rafflesia Flower Jungle Trekking Adventure

Sapria himalayana

Sapria ram Baenziger&Hansen, Thailand

Sapria polainei, Cambodia

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii, Maliau Basin Conservation Area

Evan with his Rafflesia Arnoldii from Bengkulu

Rafflesia tengku-adlinii Mat Salleh

Prof. Dr. Kamarudin Mat-Salleh

Stamp from Indonesia

RAFFLESIA Nama latin : Rafflesia micropylora

A Contribution to the Life History of the Rare Indonesian Holoparasite Rafflesia patma (Rafflesiaceae)

A Contribution to the Life History of the Rare Indonesian Holoparasite Rafflesia patma (Rafflesiaceae)1

Abstract

Zusammenfabung

Rafflesia Patma

THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONSERVATION OF RAFFLESIA IN MALAYSIA

Thursday, October 19, 2006

THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN THE CONSERVATION OF RAFFLESIA IN MALAYSIA

Kapan di temukannya Rafflesia Patma Pertamakali?

Photo of Rafflesia Arnoldii from Curup, Bengkulu

Rafflesia from Singkawang, west Borneo, Indonesia

Rafflesia - the Biggest Flower

Sweet Rafflesia

Sweet Rafflesia

Rafflesia and my Dedication

Rafflesia and my Dedication

Rafflesia speciosa Barcelona and Fernando

Description from Barcelona and Fernando (Kew Bulletin, 57: 647-651, 2002)

Rafflesia manillana Teschemacher

Rafflesia manillana Teschemacher

Description translated from the original German text (Koorders 1918) by Vanessa Ashworth.

Description from Flora Malesiana treatment (W. Meijer, 1997)

Knop R. Arnoldii in Curup, Bengkulu

C’est la RAFFLESIA ARNOLDII

RAFFLESIA OF THE RAINFOREST, THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOWER: Conservation of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) in Malaysia

la rafflésia

Magnificent Arial Bloom of Rafflesia in Lojing

Magnificent Arial Bloom of Rafflesia in Lojing

Rafflesia keithii in Poring, Sabah

Rafflesia keithii in Poring, Sabah

The Largest Flower on Earth

March 17, 2007

The Largest Flower on Earth

RAFFLESIA in Bukit Tinggi

Photo of Rafflesia from sumatera

Rafflesia arnoldii in Batang Pelupuh, Sumatra by KMS

Photo Raflesia from Cameron Highlands by Juin Yin

Close up Photo from kinabalu

From Photographer Julian W

WORLD OLD NATURE

WORLD OLD NATURE

Photo of Rafflesia sp

The Best Photo of Rafflesia Mira

Photo of Rafflesia Baletei

Photo of Rafflesia schadenbergiana

Photo of Rafflesia Manillana

Photo of Rafflesia Speciosa

The Corpse Flower

The Corpse Flower

The world's largest flower, now blooming at Sibalom Natural Park in Antique

Die Rafflesia – bestimmt keine F

RAFFLESIA

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Göppert

Rafflesia schadenbergiana Göppert

Description translated from the original German text (Koorders 1918) by Vanessa Ashworth

Description From Flora Malesiana treatment (W. Meijer, 1997)

Rafflesia banahawensis Madulid, Villariba-Tolentino & Agoo

RAFFLESIA
Nama latin : Rafflesia micropylora

A Contribution to the Life History of the Rare Indonesian Holoparasite Rafflesia patma (Rafflesiaceae)¹