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Balanophora

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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
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Species

See text

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

Balanophora is a genus of parasitic 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 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 meaning "acorn" or "glans" and phoros meaning "to bear".

Species

As of March 2017, the following species are accepted at The Plant List:

The following names are unresolved:

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). doi:10.1186/s13002-016-0086-y.
  4. ^ "Search results for Balanophora". The Plant List. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  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. Christenhusz, Maarten J.M.; Fay, Michael F.; Chase, Mark W. (2017). Plants of the World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Vascular Plants. Richmond: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p. 425. ISBN 9781842466346.
  10. Balanophora coralliformis (Balanophoraceae), a new species from Mt. Mingan, Luzon, Philippines
  11. Those Who do not Chlorophyll Lithophytic
Taxon identifiers
Balanophora


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