Citation
Ng, F. S. P. (2024) Rafflesia realities and fantasies. Journal of Tropical Forest Science (JTFS) (Malaysia), 36 (4). pp. 461-472. ISSN 0128-1283
Abstract
The belief that Rafflesia is a repeat-flowering holoparasite with an invasive endophytic mycelium-like vegetative body is not supported by evidence. Instead, the evidence favors Rafflesia as a localized holoparasite that bears one flower only, dying after a single reproductive event. Also, whereas angiosperms and gymnosperms begin life as seedlings with apical meristems that drive open-ended acropetal growth, Rafflesia has no seedling stage and no apical meristems. Its development is closeended, resulting in a plant of fixed size, shape, and life-span. The Rafflesia flower and fruit differ fundamentally from the flower and fruit of angiosperms. The structure and behavior of Rafflesia seeds is unlike the seeds of other plants.
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Official URL: https://jtfs.frim.gov.my/jtfs/article/view/2969/19...
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Abstract
The belief that Rafflesia is a repeat-flowering holoparasite with an invasive endophytic mycelium-like vegetative body is not supported by evidence. Instead, the evidence favors Rafflesia as a localized holoparasite that bears one flower only, dying after a single reproductive event. Also, whereas angiosperms and gymnosperms begin life as seedlings with apical meristems that drive open-ended acropetal growth, Rafflesia has no seedling stage and no apical meristems. Its development is closeended, resulting in a plant of fixed size, shape, and life-span. The Rafflesia flower and fruit differ fundamentally from the flower and fruit of angiosperms. The structure and behavior of Rafflesia seeds is unlike the seeds of other plants.
Additional Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| AGROVOC Term: | Rafflesiaceae |
| AGROVOC Term: | plant developmental stages |
| AGROVOC Term: | flowers |
| AGROVOC Term: | fruits |
| AGROVOC Term: | seeds |
| AGROVOC Term: | seedling stage |
| AGROVOC Term: | flowering |
| AGROVOC Term: | reproduction |
| AGROVOC Term: | mycelium |
| AGROVOC Term: | apical meristems |
| Geographical Term: | Malaysia |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Angiosperm, endophyte, evolution, holoparasite, homology, phanerogam, taxonomy |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Azariah Hashim |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jun 2026 01:38 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 01:38 |
| URI: | http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3756 |
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