Rafflesia lobata: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Rafflesiaceae
Genus
Rafflesia
Species
Rafflesia lobata
Scientific Name
Rafflesia lobata

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Rafflesia lobata

Rafflesia lobata is a parasitic plant species of the genus Rafflesia. It is endemic to the Philippine island of Panay, particularly the mountains of Antique and Iloilo provinces. This is the second species recorded from the island of Panay. One of the most distinctive features of Rafflesia lobata is that some populations have flowers with a lobed diaphragm that opens outward. Nearly all other Rafflesia (and Sapria) species have diaphragms that curve inward. This feature is polymorphic in R. lobata (at least as the species is currently defined). As shown in the photos below, in some populations the diaphragm curves inward and may be 3- or 6-lobed. Note the 6-lobed flower also has 6 perigone lobes. It remains to be seen whether flower merousity has phylogenetic significance that should be taxonomically recognized. Some populations of R. manillana, such as one at Bolos Point, Cagayan Valley, Luzon, also have flowers with lobed, outwardly curving diaphragms.

The name of the species was derived from its distinctive lobed diaphragm.

The first population of R. lobata was discovered by the local conservation group studying Philippine Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi).

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Rafflesia lobata in languages:

Russian
Раффлезия лопастная

Images from inaturalist.org observations:

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Rafflesia lobata
©Forest Botial-Jarvis, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©Nina Lester Finley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©Nina Lester Finley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©Nina Lester Finley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©Nina Lester Finley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©eazytraveler, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©eazytraveler, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Rafflesia lobata
©eazytraveler, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)