Gabriel R.

Mendoza 1MBio8
Junegreg A. Cual

Species Concepts of Rafflesia aurantia

Since the publication of Species Plantarum and Systema Naturae by Carolus Linnaeus,
scientists have been referring to these books containing the proper classifications of both the
plant and animal kingdom. In present time however, assigning scientific names to different taxa
has been more tedious for people since there are particular sets of rules and codes that one
must follow. In identifying a species, there should be a supplement of “species concept” to
support it to define its taxa (Aldhebiani, 2018). In order to better understand this, using the
journal; “Rafflesia aurantia (Rafflesiaceae): A New Species from Northern Luzon, Philippines”,
might help one see how these species concept work. From the journal, four species concepts
concerning Rafflesia aurantia have been found, namely; the Biological Species, Morphological
Species, Ecological Species, and Phylogenetic Species concepts.
The Biological Species concept is evident in the study since there are biogeographical
considerations concerning this rafflesia that has allowed it to be identified as its own species.
Among all the Rafflesia species, the Rafflesia tengku-adlinii (Borneo) is the most
morphologically similar to the Rafflesia aurantia (Luzon) yet they are both considered as
different species since their geographical distributions, their obligate parasitic nature, and their
capacity to disperse, being Rafflesia species which have generally have low dispersal abilities
such as; short anthesis, pollen germinability and longevity, and low seed variability, make the
gene flow for both these species to be unlikely. The study shows that both species are likely an
example of extreme convergence in distantly related lineages (Barcelona, Co, Balete, &
Bartolome, 2009). This indicates an allopatric speciation between the two species. A population
split and a blockage of their gene flow due to vicariance (Sulu Sea) indicates speciation of this
said lineage to form these two isolated populations. From such, the Biological Species Concept
can be seen in the study through how these two very familiar rafflesias are actually differing
species since they are reproductively isolated from one another, as how the concept sees it fit.
The Morphological Species concept is clearly manifested in the study as it compares
both the very similar morphological characteristics of R. aurantia and R. tengku-adlinii. The
study considers both as examples of morphologically semi-cryptic species, indicating that there
are subtle morphological differences between them, to consider them both as their own species.
R. aurantia is different from the latter species since its ramenta are lanate, entirely glabrous,
and substantially longer (7-10 mm). Its ramenta is sparse towards the diaphragm and absent
near the aperture rim, its polymorphic, flattened, irregularly and sometimes horizontally
disposed, and multi-branched processes. R. tengku-adlinii ramenta extends to its diaphragm,
are significantly shorter (3-5 mm), and are covered with fine bristles. Besides ramenta
Gabriel R. Mendoza 1MBio8
Junegreg A. Cual

differences between both species, both their disk morphology are different. The processes of R.
tengku-adlinii are much reduced compared to those of R. aurantia, and these are regular in
disposition and more or less solitary. Furthermore, R. aurantia (20 anthers) has less anthers
than R. tengku-adlinii (12-14 anthers). In addition, R. aurantia bears fine, sharped-edge, areoles
forming ornamentations on the outer surface of the perigone lobes and diaphragm of fresh
flowers, whereas have distinctive pustular warts on the perigone lobes of fresh flowers
(Barcelona, et.al, 2009). These differences between these two populations indicate that these
are two different species that bear their own set of unique traits even if they are morphologically
semi-cryptic species.
The Ecological Species concept defines species as a set of organisms that belong on a
niche in the environment (Ridley, 1989). For the R. aurantia, its lives as an obligate parasite that
are parasitic on the prostate stems and roots of liana, Tetrastigma, and has never been found
growing on the climbing stem of the host. Its seed dispersers may possible be murid rodents
such as Apomys, Bullimus, and Rattus everetti. Its flower visitors include metallic bottle flies.
Being an organism that fills the role of parasitism and a plant that is dispersed and visited by
other animals, the niche that it fills in its environment considers R. aurantia to be its own
species.
The Phylogenetic Species concept is seen in the study in conjunction with the Biological
Species concept of the species. As mentioned, both the R. aurantia and R. tengku-adlinii are
species that must had extreme convergence from distantly-related lineages that allowed both of
them to be their own species. From the analysis of both the nuclear and mitochondrial markers
of the Philippine, Peninsular Malaysian, and Borneo Rafflesia, the Philippine species of
rafflesias has been found to be a monophyletic clade sister to all other species of the Rafflesia
genus (Barcelona, et.al, 2009). Since these species share a monophyletic origin and similar
evolutionary history, the population of Rafflesia aurantia, along with the other various rafflesia
populations, is its own species.
References:
Aldhebiani, A. Y. (2018). Species concept and speciation. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences,
25(3), 437–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.04.013
Barcelona, J.F., Co, L.L, Balete, D.S, & Bartolome, N.A. (2009). Rafflesia aurantia
(Rafflesiaceae): A New Species from Northern Luzon, Philippines.” Gardens'
Bulletin Singapore. 61. 17-27.
Ridley, M. (1983). Evolution. Retrieved from http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ridley.
/a-z/Ecological_species_concept.asp