''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
Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...
,
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
''Characteres generum plantarum'' (complete title , "Characteristics of the types of plants collected, described, and delineated during a voyage to islands of the South Seas, in the years 1772–1775 by Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster ...
''.
The name is derived from the
ancient Greek words (), meaning "acorn" and (), meaning "to carry".
[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).]
Species
, the following species are accepted at
Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
:
*''
Balanophora abbreviata''
Blume
*''
Balanophora aphylla''
Luu, H.Ð.Trần & H.C.Nguyen
*''
Balanophora coralliformis
''Balanophora coralliformis'', sometimes known as coral plant, is a flowering plant in the family Balanophoraceae and is known only from Mount Mingan on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Like others in its genus, it is an obligate paras ...
''
Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser
*''
Balanophora cucphuongensis''
Ban
Ban, or BAN, may refer to:
Law
* Ban (law), a decree that prohibits something, sometimes a form of censorship, being denied from entering or using the place/item
** Imperial ban (''Reichsacht''), a form of outlawry in the medieval Holy Roman ...
*''
Balanophora dioica
''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 ac ...
''
R.Br. ex Royle
*''
Balanophora elongata
''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 ac ...
''
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
''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 ac ...
''
Schltr.
*''
Balanophora polyandra
''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 ...
''
Griff.
*''
Balanophora reflexa
''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 ac ...
''
Becc.
Odoardo Beccari (16 November 1843 – 25 October 1920) was an Italian botanist famous for his discoveries in Indonesia, particularly New Guinea, and Australia. He has been called the greatest botanist to ever study Malesia. His author abbrevi ...
*''
Balanophora subcupularis''
P.C.Tam
*''
Balanophora tobiracola
''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 a ...
''
Makino
*''
Balanophora wilderi''
Setch.
*''
Balanophora yakushimensis
''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 ...
''
Hatus. & Masam.
References
Santalales genera
{{Santalales-stub