Rafflesia of the World
By Jamili Nais – (2001)
243 pages; matt art paper, 152 colour photos, 73 monochrome illustrations & 19 maps.
Hard Cover: 26.3cm x 19.4cm.
ISBN: 983-812-042-1
Natural History Publications (Borneo) Kota Kinabalu
This is one of the most enthralling and interesting books I have read on any group of plants and no naturalist or plant lovers’ library is complete without a copy of this marvelous hardback. The Rafflesiaare not only among the world’s rarest plants and flowers, but they also the world’s largest ‘individual’ flowers (some up to 1 meter across) and without question among the most interesting and astonishing. As conspicuous as they are when (rarely) flowering however, they are also among the least understood of the plant kingdom.
This book, the most authoritative yet published on the subject, covers all 18 species known to the genus. It delves into the discovery, history, biology, distribution, intergeneric relationships, DNA molecular analysis, morphology, reproductive ecology, life cycle and bud development, host plants, many exhaustive case studies, parasitism, extinction, artificial propagation methods and conservation measures as well as a detailed account of each species.
Each species has its botanical name, author where and when published, type material, synonymous names, plant/flower description, distribution local and global, altitude and habitats, conservation status and various general comments and observations. With each species at least one illustration if not many excellent color photos depict it along with a map with a shaded area indicating distribution. Some species are exceptionally rare and only known from original collections dating back to the early 1900’s, so hence photographs were not available in a few cases.
Among the many wonderful photos that are included, there are some amazing shots of 2 or 3 flowers open simultaneously on the same vine (the host plant) which is an extremely rare occurrence for any human to witness. Seeing just one flower open even once in your life (if you are lucky enough) is something you will never forget, but to see two or three flowering next to each other simultaneously, is a moment no amount of money can buy. Photos like that alone make this book worth purchasing.
Many species of Rafflesia are however, on their way to extinction due to habitat destruction and illegal collection of developing buds consumed and sold by indigenous people as an edible delicacy or for use in apparent medicinal remedies. As the author rightly points out, protection of our forests and faunistic and floristic elements such as Rafflesia will bring in much larger volumes of dollars into the local and national economies through ecotourism, as opposed to the lesser volume of income generated by clearing land for agriculture or otherwise for local consumption. Ecotourism creates employment for local people in all sorts of areas and provides longevity of income without damaging the environment.
I cannot recommend and encourage the purchase of this excellent book enough! Not only should it be on the book shelves of all naturalists and botanical institutions, but it (among other titles on fauna and flora) should also be in as many primary and high school libraries as possible – so they the future keepers of our planet, are fully aware of some of the amazing entities and elements that contribute to the intricate relationships and daily symbiotic function of our planet, and that without the urgently and immediately required protection and conservation of our remaining forests, the Rafflesia and many other faunistic and floristic groups will be lost.
Rod Rice
Principal Reviewer
Nature & Travel Books