The specific epithet derives from the morphology of the lobed diaphragm.
This species was described and named in the following:
Galang, R. and D. A. Madulid. 2006. A second new species of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from Panay Island, Philippines. Folia Malaysiana 7: 1-8.
This species was discovered by Renee Galang during his expedition to Mt. Igtuog and Mt. Sakpaw in the Central Panay mountain range during the course of his study of the Philippine Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi). Although similar to Rafflesia manillana, R. lobata differs by its out-curved diaphragm (vs. in-curved in R. manillana) that is mostly 4-5-lobed (3-lobed flowers were also seen where the diaphragm was in-curving).