RAFFLESIA REALITIES AND FANTASIES

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.