" a penetrating smell more repulsive than any buffalo carcass in an advanced stage of decomposition" (mjoberg, 1928) there are approximately 17 rafflesia species distributed throughout southeast asia (nais, 2000; meijer, 1997; mat salleh, 1991). these species are highly specific as to the hosts that they parasitize, preferring only a few species of tetrastigma (a member of the common grape family) that are
