A contribution to the life history of the rare Indonesian holoparasite Rafflesia patma (Rafflesiaceae)

Fates and growth of Rafflesia patma buds and insect visitation to the flowe rs were monitored in an evergreen tropical rain forest in the Pangandaran N ature Reserve, Java, Indonesia. Of 59 buds marked in December 1985, 44 perc ent died before flowering, 7 percent flowered, and 49 percent were still in bud in May 1986. Mammals and birds caused the deaths of buds before they r eached maturity Only four buds flowered between December 1985 and May 1986; all were male. Rate of increase in diameter (cm/d) was much faster in larg e than in small buds. Once opening began, the flower opened fully in 24 to 48 hours; the flower remained open for three to five days before rotting. O nly two genera of insects visited a male flower of R. patma: Lucilia and Sa rcophaga (Diptera). Insect visitation was highest in the afternoon (1300-17 00 h) and on the second or third day after flower opening. The increased nu mber of dies visiting the flower coincided with the increasing odor emitted from it. Results of the present study were combined with information from the literature to construct a life cycle diagram of R patma.