Rafflesia micropylora

Species of flowering plant

Rafflesia micropylora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Rafflesiaceae
Genus: Rafflesia
Species:
R. micropylora
Binomial name
Rafflesia micropylora
Meijer

Rafflesia micropylora is a parasitic plant species of the genus Rafflesia. It is endemic to Sumatra in Indonesia.

This species was named because of the small opening of its diaphragm or corona. This is one of the giant species of Rafflesia; the largest specimen being one found by ecologist/author Arnold Newman and his son Gandhi at Gunung Leuser, northern Sumatra in 1983, a whole year before publication of the official description. This one measured 38 in (97 cm) in width, and estimated by Newman senior to weigh 36 lbs (16.3 kg)[1] Unlike the bold markings of species like R. arnoldi, R. micropylora is covered with a myriad of tiny markings. The very small aperture of the corona suggests that its pollination strategy may also be quite different.

References

  1. ^ Arnold Newman, "Tropical Rainforest", (New York: Facts on File, 1990) pp. 64-66 plus photo p.65 and an excellent photo on inside back dust cover.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Rafflesia micropylora.
  • Parasitic Plant Connection: Rafflesia micropylora page
Taxon identifiers
Rafflesia micropylora


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