Rafflesia in Mount Leuser National Park, Indonesia: An updated distribution, habitat characteristics, and conservation status

Abstract

New localities and updated distribution of two endemic Rafflesia R.Br. (Rafflesiaceae) species from Mount Leuser National Park, Sumatra namely Rafflesia lawangensis Mat-Salleh, Mahyuni & Susatya and Rafflesia micropylora Meijer are reported. Rafflesia lawangensis is formerly known only from its type locality in Tualang Gepang, Bukit Lawang area (North Sumatra province), while R. micropylora is found in several localities including Sungai Jernih, Lokop, Ketambe, Lawe Mamas, and Kuala Kompas (Aceh province). Here, we report a new locality of R. lawangensis in Tangkahan (North Sumatra province) about 10 km from its type locality, and two new localities of R. micropylora in Batu Katak and in Cinta Raja (North Sumatra province). We also update the conservation status of both Rafflesia species and assess R. lawangensis as Critically Endangered and R. micropylora as Endangered. In this study, a complete distribution map of both species, habitat characteristics, and an identification key are also provided to be used for conservation managers.