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Balanophora
Balanophora fungosa subsp. indica found in northwest Thailand (Hup Patad cave)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Balanophoraceae
Genus:	Balanophora J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Type species
Balanophora fungosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Species
See text
Synonyms
Balania Tiegh. Balaniella Tiegh. Polyplethia (Griff.) Tiegh.

Balanophora is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Balanophoraceae found in parts of tropical and temperate Asia, including the Eastern Himalayas, Malesia region, Pacific Islands, Madagascar, and tropical Africa. There are about 20 accepted species, 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.

Balanophora species are used in folk medicine in many Asian cultures. 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.

Taxonomy

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

Species

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

• 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.

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.

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