A new species of the plant genus Rafflesia – R. consueloae — has been described from the Philippine Island of Luzon by a team of scientists led by Prof. Edwino Fernando of the University of the Philippines.

Rafflesia is a genus of endophytic, holoparasitic plants, well-known for producing the largest flowers in the world.

“Rafflesia flowers are unique in that they are entirely parasitic on roots and stems of specific vines in the forests and have no distinct roots, stems, or leaves of their own,” Prof. Fernando said.

“Thus, they are entirely dependent on their host plants for water and nutrients.”

When in bloom, all Rafflesia flowers emit a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting flesh.

The best known of Rafflesia species is R. arnoldii which has the largest flower in the world, often measuring nearly 1 meter across.

The newly-discovered species, Rafflesia consueloae, has flowers with an average diameter of only 9.73 cm (range 6.6 – 12.7 cm) when fully expanded, making it the smallest of the largest flowers in the world.

“It is distinct from all other species of Rafflesia in its small-sized flowers, the upright perigone lobes, and prominently cream-white disk surface that is often devoid of processes,” Dr. Fernando and co-authors said.

Rafflesia consueloae is endemic to Luzon Island, the Philippines. It is currently known only from two mountain sites with remnants of tropical lowland evergreen rain forests, Mt Balukbok and Mt Pantaburon, about 2 km apart, all within the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed.

“Following the IUCN Categories and Criteria, we regard this species as Critically Endangered. The extent of occurrence of the two small populations of Rafflesia consueloae is less than 100 sq.km.,” the scientists said.

“The continued protection of the populations of this species is important as some local people still hunt wildlife within the area and forest fires are likely in the dry season, factors which might threaten the survival of Rafflesia consueloae.”

Rafflesia consueloae is described in a paper in the journal PhytoKeys .

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Galindon J.M.M. et al. 2016. Rafflesia consueloae (Rafflesiaceae), the smallest among giants; a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines. PhytoKeys 61: 37-46; doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.61.7295