The flora of the Philippines boasts a diverse array of plant species given its location in the great Malaysian flora. The Malaysian Phytogeographic zone is considered to be one of the most important centers for plant diversity because of the multitude and variance of species occupying that zone.[1] The archipelago is isolated by a continental and deep ocean.[2]
At the very least, one-third of the more than 9,250 vascular plant species native to the country are endemic.[3] There are, however, no plant families endemic to the country.[citation needed] The families of gingers, begonias, gesneriads, orchids, pandans, palms, and dipterocarps are particularly high in endemic species. For example, two-thirds of the 150 species of palms present in the country are found nowhere else in the world. There are over 137 genera and about 998 species of orchids so far recorded in the Philippines as of 2007.[4]
The broad lowland and hill rain forests of the Philippines, which are mostly gone today,[5] were dominated by at least 45 species of dipterocarps. These massive trees were abundant to up to 1,000 meters above sea level. Considering the dipterocarps originated in India and Malaysia, the existence of the trees in the archipelago demonstrates a connection between the Philippines and western Malaysia.[6] Other important tree species here include giant figs, which provide food for fruit bats, parrots, and monkeys, and Pterocarpus indicus, which like the dipterocarps, is valued for its timber.
Due to environmental changes, finding new species has become more urgent so the island can have an accurate reading of flora and fauna record.[7]
A few species of Rafflesia are found in the Philippines,[8] one of them being Rafflesia philippensis.[9]
