Rafflesia micropylora is a parasitic plant species of the genus Rafflesia. It is endemic to Sumatra in Indonesia.
| Rafflesia micropylora | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Rafflesiaceae |
| Genus: | Rafflesia |
| Species: | R. micropylora
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| Binomial name | |
| Rafflesia micropylora | |
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 edit
- ^ 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 edit
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