Balanophora

Balanophora is a genus of parasitic 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
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 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 May 2020, the following species are accepted at Plants of the World Online:[4]

  • Balanophora abbreviata Blume
  • Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser
  • Balanophora dioica R.Br. ex Royle
  • Balanophora elongata Blume
  • Balanophora fargesii (Tiegh.) Harms
  • 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 pierrei Lecomte
  • Balanophora polyandra Griff.
  • Balanophora reflexa Becc.
  • Balanophora subcupularis P.C.Tam
  • Balanophora tobiracola Makino
  • Balanophora wilderi Setch.
  • Balanophora yakushimensis Hatus. & Masam.

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 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. 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).


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