The specific epithet honors Juan V. Pancho, a botanist from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, Laguna and author of the Vascular Flora of Mount Makiling and Vicinity.
This species was described and named in the following publication:
Madulid, D. A., I. E. Buot, and E. M. G. Agoo. 2007 [available only in 2008]. Rafflesia panchoana (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines. Acta Manilana 55: 43-47.
Similar in size to Rafflesia manillana but apparently differing by the more upright or slightly inclined diaphragm, smaller warts on the perigone lobes, elongated windows on the underside of the diaphragm, and bristles on the rim of the annulus.
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.
Open flower with bud. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Julie Barcelona.
Open flower with bud. Mt. Makiling, Laguna Province, Luzon
Island,
Philippines. ca. 14 07 48 N, 121 12 0 E. Photo May 2003 by Arvin
Diesmos.
Julie Barcelona and Danny Balete with a Rafflesia panchoana flower. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Arvin Diesmos.
Julie Barcelona with the tiny (relatively speaking!) Rafflesia panchoana flower. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Arvin Diesmos.