Rafflesia

Rafflesia bulbasaurs!

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Rafflesia bulbasaur

Is this a new species… of Pokemon? There are 15 species of Rafflesia flowers in the Philippines. The Bulbasaur is a “species” of Pokemon, one of over 1,000 species in the popular Japanese media franchise.

At Philippine Wildlife Art, there is a Bulbasaur for every Philippine Rafflesia species: Rafflesaurs!

So far, 6 of the 15 species found only in the Philippines have been illustrated. Learn more about them below!

  • Rafflesaur consueloae
  • Rafflesaur leonardi
  • Rafflesaur baletei
  • Rafflesaur lobata
  • Rafflesaur aurantia
  • Rafflesaur verrucosa

Last updated November 20, 2024

Rafflesaur consueloae Bulbasaur

Rafflesia consueloe bulbasaur

This species is Rafflesaur consueloae, which is a result of a Bulbasaur born on Mt. Balukbok in Nueva Ecija: the only place in the world where Rafflesia consueloae flowers have been found (Galindon et al., 2016).

Scientists have long known that tetrastigma vines in the forest are the only hosts of Rafflesia flowers. Rafflesia like R. consueloae grow inside these vines and eventually reveal their blooming flowers. They are “parasitic” or dependent on tetrastigma vines for survival, but they also depend on pollinators like flies to reproduce.

It was recently discovered that Bulbasaurs are a “host Pokemon” for Rafflesia flowers (Philippine Wildlife Art 2023). Not much is known about their symbiotic relationship, because not many scientists are Pokemon experts yet.

Though the Pokemon Vileplume is known to be a rafflesia-inspired species, the Rafflesaur is the only species known to exist in the forests of the Philippines. We must protect our forests, so that we can gather more information about our elusive Philippine Rafflesaurs!

Rafflesia leonardi Bulbasaur

Rafflesia leonardi bulbasaur

This Rafflesaur is a special one, as it is dedicated to the late Dr. Leonard Co, whom it is named after.

Dr. Co knew so much about plants that a digital library was made in his honor. Today, philippineplants.org features photos from almost half of all Philippine plant species. And there are an estimated 10,000 species native to the country!

On November 15, 2010, he was killed in a supposed crossfire in the forests he lived and worked to protect.

Rafflesaur leonardi is a beautiful Rafflesaur, known for its intelligence, observant behavior, and tendency to pass on knowledge to other Rafflesaurs! It was discovered by Agta community member Sumper Aresta.

Learn more about Dr. Leonard Co at bit.ly/leonardco

Rafflesia baletei Bulbasaur

Rafflesia baletei bulbasaur

Say hello to Rafflesaur baletei! Named after the late mammalogist Danilo Balete, R. baletei likes frolicking on rocky slopes!

It is a small Rafflesaur, similar in size to R. manillana (which you will meet soon), but it prefers to bloom from the roots of Tetrastigma vines. R. manillana is not as shy, blooming higher above the ground for all to see (Barcelona et al 2006).

Rafflesia lobata Bulbasaur

Rafflesia Lobata with Baybayin

Say hello to Rafflesaur lobata! It is named after the unique-looking rafflesia flower on its back: Rafflesia lobata.

Unlike most Rafflesia flowers, R. lobata has a diaphragm at its center that is lobed, or open with flaps. This rafflesaur likes to think it gives it wings, like its pollinator the fly!

Rafflesia aurantia Bulbasaur

Rafflesaur aurantia, inspired by the Rafflesia species Rafflesia aurantia

Say hello to Rafflesaur aurantia! It is named after its vibrant orange color, from a latin word for gold, aurum.

Indeed it is like gold, because it was found in fast disappearing lowland dipterocarp forests in northeastern Luzon – in the Sierra Madre. And it is threatened because of another precious item in these mountains: actual gold!

Researchers shared in a 2009 study about R. aurantia that commercial open-pit mining “…Poses the gravest threat for this Rafflesia habitat.”

Rafflesia verrucosa Bulbasaur

Rafflesaur verrucosa stares at its pollinator, the fly

Rafflesaur verrucosa is a bit distracted today. One of the smallest of the Rafflesaur’s, R. verrucosa gets very cozy with their pollinator the fly. And just like the actual flower of 𝘙𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘢, their flowers are bisexual!

Another unique quality of this particular Rafflesaur is their warts, which are raised and irregularly shaped, unlike their Rafflesaur cousins. Hence their name’s etymology: verruca is Latin for wart!

Free coloring page and printable in the Gumroad shop!

Read more

Stay tuned for more Rafflesaurs to be added here!

Leonard Co and Rafflesia leonardi

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Leonard Co and Rafflesia leonardi illustration

Leonard Co was renowned as a “human library” of Philippine plants and trees. Unfortunately not many people knew about him before, and even after his death.

One of his legacies is a “digital library” of Philippine flora at Philippineplants.org, which today has over 72,000 photos of Philippine trees and plants. The site features photos of almost half of all plant species in the country (there are 10,000 species in the Philippines).

He also founded the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society or PNPCSI in 2007. He was the organization’s first president, and advocated the use of native plants in forest restoration as well as making plant photographs and data available to the public. PNPCSI continues to accept members and share knowledge on the importance of our forests.

He was killed in a supposed crossfire involving the army and the NPA in the forests of Leyte on November 15, 2010.

Rafflesia leonardi Barcelona & Pelser (2008), a beautiful parasitic plant discovered in Luzon’s Sierra Madre, was named in his honor. The plant is illustrated above with Leonard Co.

Learn more about him, and how the Philippines’ lost one of its most valuable researchers in the movement to conserve our forests in the documentary “Walang hanggang buhay ni Leonard Co.”

https://cinemata.org/view?m=ms6NPFDuV