Re: [Aroid-l]Off-topic-- Rafflesia/host vine

**&* B* <j*@msn.com>**

From : 	Marcin <shagar@cyber-sport.com.pl>

Reply-To : 	Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com>
Sent : 	Tuesday, January 16, 2007 8:03 PM
To : 	Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com>
Subject : 	Re: [Aroid-l] Re: Rafflesia

Dear Friends,

Now we know both from Marcin AND from browsing that wonderful web site sent

in by our Australian friend that the host-vine of at LEAST one species of

Rafflesia is Tetrastigma spp. So---we must now really search the

web/literature to see what is the minimum sized vine that Rafflesia might

'invade' as a parasite, and be large enough support the existence of this

parasite within its tissues! I THINK from photos I recall seeing that

these vines are a VERY substantial size, the bases as big around as my

thigh. This tells us that it PROBABLY is inpractable to cultivate vines in

a greenhouse OR without a HUGE/tall jungle canopy until they attain this

size in MANY years time. No, Brian I don`t think that a bansai or small

vine could support a parasite the size of a Rafflesia. SO---let`s go all

out to convince the Governments in charge of the forests where this treasure

occurs to conserve their vines and jungles!!

Good Growing,

Julius>>Hi

I recalll Tetrastigma ssp is the host, but I might be wrong.

With regards, Marcin<<

I know that my friend Pia who posted this is knowledgable
as to the  following, but for those who are not, and who
just might even THINK about  his suggestion of trying to
establish Rafflesia in Horticulture, the  following facts
might disuade them and save them lots of time and effort.
To realisticly grow Raflesia, on would have to first
obtain the seeds and  cultivate a specific giant jungle
vine to maturity, as the only place that  Rafflesia is
know to exist is as a parasite WITHIN the tissues of one
of  these GIANT jungle vines.

Funny how things come around again, isn't it?  This exact
same discussion was on here two or three years ago.  So,
which giant jungle vine is the host?  (I suspect different
ones for different Rafflesia species, of which there are at
least a dozen.)  It's enough to make me wish I'd gotten that
"Rafflesias of the World" book at the airport on my last
trip to Malaysia (the symposium, you all remember that).
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