Distribution and flowering of rafflesia manillana Teschem. on Mt. Makiling, Luzon island, Philippines
2004
Abraham, E.R.G.E-mail:[email protected] | Breva, R.V. | Fernando, E.S.(Philippines Univ. Los Baños, College, Laguna (Philippines). Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems)
The authors conducted field expeditions on Mt. Makiling between 2002 to 2004 and found that Rafflesia manillana Teschem is still present and thriving in the lowland and mid-mountain forests with Tetrastigma harmandi Planch. as the host vine. Seven species in four major watershed areas were discovered with 15 active sub-populations of the species. The elevation of the sites ranged between 500 m to 900 m above sea level. Prior to 2002, the known locality of R. manillana was only in one site around 720 m elevation. Flowering was observed both on the ground and aboveground on the exposed stem of the host plant. Populations were purely female, male or mixture of both. A detailed study of bud development and flowering of one sub-population showed it moving within an area of 18 sq m of forest floor. Each year, the concentration of flowering was different. Buds took about a year to mature and flower, with more than 60% of the buds eventually failing, generally during the rainy season (June to September). Bud size ranged from 1 cm to as much as 9 cm in diameter. Flowers generally open after reaching 8 cm. Flowering occurred throughout the year but the peak was in March (dry season), at which time the incidence of male and female flowers simultaneously opening was high. The size of fully open flowers ranged from 13.1 cm to 19 cm in diameter. Flowers remained fresh only for a very short time, lasting from 2-3 days before the onset of decomposition. Post-flowering monitoring also generated what was believe is first ever information on fruit development of the species.
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