Biology:Balanophora
Balanophora is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Balanophoraceae distributed from tropical Africa and Madagascar, through South and Southeast Asia, Japan, Queensland and the islands of the western Pacific.[1][2][3] There are 25 accepted species.[4] Many species emit an odour which possibly attracts pollinators in the same way that pollinators are attracted to Rafflesia.[5] The tiny flowers produce some of the smallest seeds known, weighing as little as 7 micrograms each.[6]
Balanophora species are used in folk medicine in many Asian cultures.[3] For example, in Taiwan and China, Balanophora is known as she-gu (snake-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][7]
Taxonomy
The genus was first described in 1775 by Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg Forster in Characteres Generum Plantarum.[8][9] The name is derived from the ancient Greek words balanos (βάλανος), meaning "acorn" and pherein (φέρειν), meaning "to carry".[10]
Species
As of January 2025[update], Plants of the World Online accepts the following 25 species:[4]
- Balanophora abbreviata Blume
- Balanophora aphylla Luu, H.Ð.Trần & H.C.Nguyen
- Balanophora appressa R.X.Yu & S.Y.Zhou
- Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser
- Balanophora cucphuongensis Bân
- 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.
- 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 parajaponica R.X.Yu, S.Y.Zhou & Y.Q.Li
- 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.[11][12]
References
- ↑ O'Neill, Alexander; Rana, Santosh (2018-07-26). "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.
- ↑ "Balanophora J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.". Tropicos.org.Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40024135.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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. PMID 26912113.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Balanophora J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2025. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:3817-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jin, Chee Beng; Hoo, Lau Kah (2010). "Balanophora:the hidden highland parasite with unexplored medicinal potential". Malaysian Naturalist: 20–21. https://www.academia.edu/2485297. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ↑ Cranbrook, Earl of (1989). Key Environments - Malaysia. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press. p. 68.
- ↑ "Balanophoraceae". Flora Malesiana. http://portal.cybertaxonomy.org/flora-malesiana/node/7100.
- ↑ "Plant name details". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://www.ipni.org/n/3817-1.
- ↑ Forster, Johann Reinhold; Forster, Georg (1775). Characteres Generum Plantarum. London: White, Cadell & Elmsly. p. 99. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/23365#page/115/mode/1up. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ 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). doi:10.1002/ecy.3972. PMID 36691102. Bibcode: 2023Ecol..104E3972S. https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.3972.
- ↑ "Science News. New discovery: Endangered Amami rabbit disperses seeds for non-photosynthetic plant". Science Daily. 23 January 2023. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230123123306.htm.
Wikidata ☰ Q8240497 entry
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