Rafflesia speciosa

Rafflesia speciosa
A bloom of Rafflesia speciosa found in the mountainous barangays of Miagao, Iloilo, on the southern foothills of the Sibalom Natural Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Rafflesiaceae
Genus:	Rafflesia
Species:	R. speciosa
Binomial name
Rafflesia speciosa Barcelona & Fernando

Rafflesia speciosa is a parasitic plant species of the genus Rafflesia. It is endemic to the Philippine island of Panay.^[1] R. speciosa is the third Rafflesia species documented to exist in the Philippines, after R. manillana and R. schadenbergiana. It belongs to the medium-sized Rafflesia (Meijer, 1997). The species was named by Julie Barcelona and Edwino Fernando.^[2]

Rafflesia speciosa was discovered in the mountains of Sibalom Natural Park (particularly Mount Porras) in Antique, Panay by members of an outdoor club. It was adopted as the symbol of Sibalom Natural Park and the municipality of Sibalom.^[3] For more information, see the review of Philippine Rafflesia.^[4]

References

1. Barcelona, Julie F. "Rafflesia". Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
2. Barcelona, Julie F.; Fernando, Edwino S. (2002). "A new species of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from Panay Island, Philippines". Kew Bulletin. 57 (3): 647–651. doi:10.2307/4110994. JSTOR 4110994. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
3. Fuentes, Art (2006-04-05). "Raffesia mira: yet another reason to be proud of the Philippines!". Haribon Foundation. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
4. Barcelona, J.F.; Pelser, P.B.; Balete, D.S.; Co, L.L. (October 2009). "Taxonomy, ecology, and conservation status of Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae)". Blumea. 54: 77–94. doi:10.3767/000651909X474122.

External links

• Parasitic Plant Connection: Rafflesia speciosa page