Species named after the city of Manila, Philippines.
The taxonomy of Rafflesia manillana has been confusing for some time because some of the early descriptions are not accompanied by actual specimens. In other cases there were collections, but only of buds, thus preventing researchers from obtaining measurements of mature floral parts. The nomenclature is another issue in that names such as R. lagascae Blanco and R. cumingii R. Brown must be dealt with (at least for now these are treated here as synonyms). Biologically, there are other Rafflesia, some of which have only recently been named as new species, that are morphologically very similar to R. manillana, such as R. lobata and R. philippensis. As described below, the species named R. panchoana is here considered a synonym of R. manillana. For a review of these complex issues, see the following:
Barcelona, J. F., P. B Pelser, D. S. Balete, and L. L. Co. 2009. Taxonomy, ecology, and conservation status of Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae). Blumea 54: 77-93.
Madulid, D. A. and E. M. G. Agoo. 2007 [available only in 2008]. On the identity of Rafflesia manillana Teschem. (Rafflesiaceae). Philippine Scientist 44: 57-70.
• Rafflesia manillana flower and bud. Mt. Natib, Central Luzon region, Bataan province, Philippines. Photo by Julie Barcelona.
Julie Barcelona contemplating a Rafflesia manillana. Mt. Natib, Central Luzon region, Bataan province, Philippines.
• Senescent Rafflesia manillana flowers. Or are some of these forming fruits. Mt. Natib, Central Luzon region, Bataan province, Philippines.
• Open flower showing column inside the diaphragm and the densely spotted perigone tube. Mt. Labo, Bicol Region, Camarines Norte province, Philippines. Photo by Julie Barcelona.
The following photos are of R. manillana, considered previously to be a new species, R. panchoana. The species was named in honor of Juan V. Pancho, a botanist from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, Laguna (author of the Vascular Flora of Mount Makiling and Vicinity) 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.
The morphological features that these authors cited as being different from R. manillana, i.e. 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, are all within the range of variation for R. manillana.
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 manillana flower. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Arvin Diesmos.
Julie Barcelona with the tiny (relatively speaking!) Rafflesia manillana flower. Mount Makiling in Los Banos, the Philippines. Photo May 2003 by Arvin Diesmos.
