Balanophora

Balanophora
Balanophora indica found in northwest Thailand (Hup Patad cave)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core 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 about 100 species[1] of parasitic plants in the family Balanophoraceae found in parts of tropical and temperate Asia, including the Malesia region, Pacific Islands, Madagascar, and tropical Africa. Of these 19 are accepted species names (without a newly discovered species 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. The tubers of Balanophora are rich in a wax-like substance which is used in Java as a fuel for torches.[2]

Taxonomy

The genus was first described in 1775 by Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg Forster in Characteres Generum Plantarum.[3][4] The name is derived from the Ancient Greek balanus (βάλανος) meaning "acorn"[5] and phorá (φορά) meaning "crop".[6]

Selected species

accepted species:
  • Balanophora abbreviata Blume
  • Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser a new species[7]
  • Balanophora cucphuongensis Ban, 1996;[8]
  • 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 indica, a synonym of Balanophora fungosa subsp. indica (Arn.) B.Hansen[9]
  • 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.

The following names are unresolved:

  • Balanophora capensis Eckl. & Zeyh. ex Eichler
  • Balanophora dentata Tiegh.
  • Balanophora pierrei Lecomte

References

  1. ↑ "Balanophora J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.". Tropicos.org.Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Beng, Jin Chee. "Balanophora : the hidden highland parasite with unexplored medicinal potential". academia.edu. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. ↑ International Organization for Plant Information (IOPI). "Plant Name Search Results" (HTML). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Forster, Johann Reinhold; Forster, Georg (1775). Characteres Generum Plantarum. London: White, Cadell & Elmsly. p. 99. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "balanus". Wiktionary. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "φορά". Wiktiionary. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Balanophora coralliformis (Balanophoraceae), a new species from Mt. Mingan, Luzon, Philippines
  8. ↑ Those Who do not Chlorophyll Lithophytic
  9. ↑ The Plant List: Balanophora indica (Arn.) Griff.


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