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


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

Kompas/Achmad Zulkani
Bunga Rafflesia arnoldi yang mekar di Bengkulu


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

Seeing in Rafflesia Arnoldi



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


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

Rafflesias from www.flickr.com

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

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.

Our guide to see rafflesia flower :-)

with the giant flower Rafflesia keithii

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

Rafflesia flower, Borneo

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

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

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


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

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

Rafflesia flower

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

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

hmm... biggest flower in M'sia

largest flowering plant in the world kk kokob borneo march 07




Rafflesia cantleyi

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

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.

Image of Largest Flower RafflesiaRafflesia, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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/