Balanophora

Balanophora is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Balanophoraceae found in parts of tropical and temperate Asia, including the Eastern Himalayas,[1] Malesia region, Pacific Islands, Madagascar, and tropical Africa.[2][3] There are about 20 accepted species,[4] including the newly discovered B. coralliformis. Many species emit an odour which possibly attracts pollinators in the same way that pollinators are attracted to Rafflesia.[5]

Balanophora
Balanophora fungosa subsp. indica found in northwest Thailand (Hup Patad cave)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Balanophoraceae
Genus: Balanophora
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Type species
Balanophora fungosa
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Balania Tiegh.
  • Balaniella Tiegh.
  • Polyplethia (Griff.) Tiegh.

Balanophora species are used in folk medicine in many Asian cultures.[3] For example, in Taiwan and China, Balanophora is known as she-gu (stone-fungus) and in Thailand as hoh-ra-tao-su-nak. In both cases, the plant is used to treat a variety of ailments and has various ritual purposes. The tubers of Balanophora are rich in a wax-like substance which is used in Java as a fuel for torches.[5][6]

Taxonomy

The genus was first described in 1775 by Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg Forster in Characteres Generum Plantarum.[7][8] The name is derived from the ancient Greek words balanos (βάλανος), meaning "acorn" and pherein (φέρειν), meaning "to carry".[9]

Species

As of January 2023, the following species are accepted at Plants of the World Online:[4]

  • Balanophora abbreviata Blume
  • Balanophora aphylla Luu, H.Ð.Trần & H.C.Nguyen
  • Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser
  • Balanophora cucphuongensis Ban
  • Balanophora dioica R.Br. ex Royle
  • Balanophora elongata Blume
  • Balanophora fargesii (Tiegh.) Harms
  • Balanophora flava (Hook.f.) Lidén
  • Balanophora fungosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (type species)
  • Balanophora harlandii Hook.f.
  • Balanophora involucrata Hook.f. & Thomson
  • Balanophora japonica Makino
  • Balanophora latisepala (Tiegh.) Lecomte
  • Balanophora laxiflora Hemsl.
  • Balanophora lowii Hook.f.
  • Balanophora nipponica Makino
  • Balanophora papuana Schltr.
  • Balanophora polyandra Griff.
  • Balanophora reflexa Becc.
  • Balanophora subcupularis P.C.Tam
  • Balanophora tobiracola Makino
  • Balanophora wilderi Setch.
  • Balanophora yakushimensis Hatus. & Masam.

Ecology

Balanophora yuwanensis, "often considered the same species as B. yakushimensis", is thought to provide the endangered dark-furred Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) of the Ryukyu Archipelago with vegetative tissues as a reward for seed dispersal. Previously, it had been a mystery how seeds of B. yuwanensis were dispersed.[10][11]

References
  1. O'Neill, Alexander; Rana, Santosh (26 July 2018). "Root holoparasite Balanophora polyandra Griff. (Balanophoraceae) in eastern Himalaya (Sikkim, India): distribution, range, status and threats". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 10 (8): 12123–12129. doi:10.11609/jott.3644.10.8.12123-12129.
  2. "Balanophora J.R. Forst. & G. Forst". Tropicos.org.Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. O'Neill, A.R.; Rana, S.K. (2019). "An ethnobotanical analysis of parasitic plants (Parijibi) in the Nepal Himalaya". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 12 (14): 14. doi:10.1186/s13002-016-0086-y. PMC 4765049. PMID 26912113.
  4. "Search results for Balanophora". The Plant List. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. Jin, Chee Beng; Hoo, Lau Kah (2010). "Balanophora:the hidden highland parasite with unexplored medicinal potential". Malaysian Naturalist: 20–21. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  6. "Balanophoraceae". Flora Malesiana. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  7. "Balanophora". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  8. Forster, Johann Reinhold; Forster, Georg (1775). Characteres Generum Plantarum. London: White, Cadell & Elmsly. p. 99. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  9. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
  10. Suetsugu, Kenji; Hashiwaki, Hiromu (2023). "A non‐photosynthetic plant provides the endangered Amami rabbit with vegetative tissues as a reward for seed dispersal". Ecology. 104 (4): e3972. doi:10.1002/ecy.3972. PMID 36691102. S2CID 256193188.
  11. "Science News. New discovery: Endangered Amami rabbit disperses seeds for non-photosynthetic plant". Science Daily. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.