Rafflesia
leonardi Barcelona & Pelser
This species was named in honor of Leonard Co, an avid botanist who
devoted much time to the study of the flora of the Sierra Madre
Mountains on Luzon. It was described in the following publication:
Barcelona, J. F, P. B. Pelser, E. Cabutaje, and N. A. Bartolome.
2008. Another new species of Rafflesia
(Rafflesiaceae) from
Luzon, Philippines: R. leonardi.
Blumea 53: 223-228.
This species most resembles R.
manillana
but it differs in the size of the flower and in its central disk which
is nearly flat on it surface and devoid of prominent processes. Until
recently it was only known from the Cagayan valley in northern Luzon.
As described below, the range has now been extended to
Kalinga-Apayao province.
The name R. banaoana was published
by Pastor Malabrigo, Jr. (University of the Philippines Los Baños) for a Rafflesia
found in the Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park in Kalinga, Luzon:
Malabrigo Jr., P.L. 2010. Rafflesia
banaoana (Rafflesiaceae): Another new species from Luzon,
Philippines. Asia Life Sciences Supplement 4: 139–146.
This Rafflesia has since been
carefully evaluated and found to be conspecific with R.
leonardi. The reasoning for this is fully explained in the
following publication:
Barcelona, J. F., E. S. Fernando D. L.
Nickrent, D. S. Balete, and P. B. Pelser. 2011. An amended
description of
Rafflesia leonardi
and a revised key to Philippine
Rafflesia
(Rafflesiaceae). Phytotaxa 24: 11-18. For a pdf file of this article,
click
HERE.
Group of flowers at various developmental
stages, including an opening bud, a fully open flower, and a senescent
flower of Rafflesia leonardi. Photo
by
Julie Barcelona.
Fully open male flower of Rafflesia
leonardi. Photo by Julie Barcelona.
Close-up of the diaphragm and disk of a male Rafflesia
leonardi flower.
Note the disk is nearly devoid of processes. Photo by Julie
Barcelona.
Cross section through the stalk of the central column of a male Rafflesia
leonardi flower showing
the underside of the disk and the anthers. Photo by Julie
Barcelona.
Julie Barcelona with open flower of Rafflesia
leonardi
Last updated: 14-May-18 / dln