Publication Date:
2024-06-17
Description:
In Peninsular Malaysia, Rafflesia is represented by seven species of which R. kerrii (and R. su-meiae)
stands out distinctly from the other five. The other five species, R. azlanii, R. cantleyi, R. parvimaculata, R. sharifahhapsahiae and R. tuanku-halimii, are collectively close enough to each other to be referred to as the R. cantleyi
complex after its first-described species, R. cantleyi. Pulau Tioman has a population of R. cantleyi, which, because
of its island location, is isolated from the mainland complex. This study was conducted to determine morphological
variation in a selected location in Pulau Tioman. Twelve flowers were studied with respect to characteristics such
as wart (blotch) pattern on perianth lobes, warts (dots) on upper surface of the diaphragm, shape of the aperture,
shape of processes and types of ramenta. These are the characters that have been used to define species in the
R. cantleyi complex. The variation in the local Tioman population was compared with the variation in the R. cantleyi
complex on the mainland, which is about the same magnitude. This supports the idea that R. cantleyi is a single
highly polymorphic species and that the species that have been described in the R. cantleyi complex should be
reduced to varieties.
Keywords:
Plant Science
;
Ecology
;
Evolution
;
Behavior and Systematics
;
morphology
;
Pulau Tioman
;
Rafflesia cantleyi complex
;
variability
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
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