66 
SOME CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 
THE RAFFLESIA PATMA* 
By the Heer Zollinger, M. Bat. Soc., &c. 
This flower, which still continues a problem in botany, and a 
rarity in the collections of botanists, appears not to be so scarce 
as has hitherto been believed. I know that it occurs on the south 
coast of Java on the hills near the boundaries of the Residencies of 
Passarfiwan and Beziikie; I found it also on the mountain Watargam 
near Puger on the south coast of the division of Bondowosso. The 
flower was brought to me from Jengawai; in the same division. All 
these places lie in the lime formation, and I consider that the Raf- 
flesia is an exanthem of the roots of Cissns Scariosa Bl., and may 
occur whereever its mother plant grows. It is still uncertain whether 
my specimens helong to the species which Blume found on Nusa 
Kambangan. Blume’s specimens must have been larger. The larg¬ 
est I possess do not attain so much as a foot in diameter, and 
mostly only ^— f f. This plant probably occurs also on Nusa 
Baron and, it is likely, along the lime hills which nearly sur¬ 
round the whole south coast of Java. I have often seen on one root 
* 
of Cissus scariosa three or more Rafflesia. It does not occur on the 
the sand of the coast as many believe and assert, but mostly in the 
ravines and humid hollows of the lime rocks. The Javanese of 
Eastern Java name this flower P*dh mo or Pidehmo. It is 
scarcely possible to concieve what idolatrous notions are entertain¬ 
ed concerning the flower by this people. An ordinary man would 
not be able to find it until after he has fasted and prayed, or been 
sanctified when he goes to search for it. The flower is prepared 
with other articles as a medicine which is used after delivery by 
women, in order completely to purify the matrix. It is also amongst 
the most reputed aphrodisiacs of the Javanese, although only for 
women 0 / the higher classes. Common women would be taken 
sick were they to use this medicine. It is further said that if a 
woman of the people has recourse to it, and afterwards going out on 
foot'treads on soipe dirtyplace, she will ever after forfeit the inclination 
* Translated for this Journal from the Natuur-en Gmecskundig Archief 
poor Norlands Indie . 
