Rafflesia leonardi is a parasitic plant species of the genus Rafflesia. It is endemic to the Philippines.[3]Rafflesia banaoana is considered to be a synonym by some sources,[2] but is recognized as a separate species by others.[4]R. leonardi is the fourth Rafflesiaspecies found in Luzon and the eighth from the Philippines.[5][6] It is called ngaratngat by the local Agta tribesmen.
The species was discovered in May 2008 by Cagayan Valley Partners in People Development (Cavapped), a multi-sectoral group of environmental scientists at remote sitio Kinapawan in the coastal town of Lal-Lo, Cagayan.
Rafflesia leonardi was named by Julie Barcelona and colleagues after the murdered Filipino botanist Dr. Leonardo Co of Conservation International.[1] See this citation for a review of Philippine Rafflesia.[7]
