最初由法國人 Louis Deschamps 於1791-1794年在爪哇發現,但他的筆記被英國人於1803年沒收。
直到1818年,自然學家約瑟夫·阿諾德(Joseph Arnold)和英國在新加坡殖民地的創建者托馬斯·斯坦福德·萊佛士(Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles)率領的科學探險隊在印尼蘇門答臘發現了這種植物,並以萊佛士的名字命名。其帶有斑點的血紅色花朵有7公斤重,直徑一般1米以上,散發一種腐爛屍體般的惡臭;同時生產熱量[6],吸引蒼蠅和幾種食腐蜂類來傳播花粉。
However, the clear monophyly of the four geographical clades does not correspond to any clear difference in appearance. There is no consistency within the clades in the size of flowers, or the presence or absence of white warts; species in different clades resemble one another more than they do some other species within the same clade. Homoplasy – repeatedly gaining or losing traits – seems to be the rule within Rafflesia.[7]
Pastor Malabrigo Jr., Adriane B. Tobias, Joko Witono, Sofi Mursidawati, Agus Susatya, Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Adhityo Wicaksono, Reza Raihandhany, Sarah Edwards and Chris J. Thorogood. 2023. Most of the World's Largest Flowers (Genus Rafflesia) are now on the Brink of Extinction. PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10431
Adriane B. Tobias, Chris J. Thorogood and Pastor L. Malabrigo Jr. 2023. The Reinstatement of Rafflesia banaoana (Rafflesiaceae), and Implications for Assessing Species Diversity and Conservation Requirements of the World's Largest Flowers. Phytotaxa. 612(2); 201-216. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.612.2.5
John Michael M. Galindon, Perry S. Ong and Edwino S. Fernando. 2016. Rafflesia consueloae (Rafflesiaceae), The Smallest among Giants; A New Species from Luzon Island, Philippines. PhytoKeys. 61: 37-46. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.61.7295
Agus Susatyaม Siti Nur Hidayati and Septian Riki. 2017. Rafflesia kemumu (Rafflesiaceae), A New Species from Northern Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia. Phytotaxa. 326(3); 211–220. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.326.3.5
Nery Sofiyanti, Kamarudin Mat-Salleh, Khairil Mahmud, Nor Zuhailah Mazlan, Mohd. Ros. Albukharey Hasein and David F.R.P. Burslem. 2016. Rafflesia parvimaculata (Rafflesiaceae), A New Species of Rafflesia from Peninsular Malaysia. Phytotaxa. 253(3); DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.253.3.4