''Balanophora'' is a genus of parasitic plants in the family
Balanophoraceae
The Balanophoraceae are a subtropical to tropical family of obligate parasitic flowering plants, notable for their unusual development and formerly obscure affinities. In the broadest circumscription, the family consists of 16 genera. Alternati ...
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
''Rafflesia'' () is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Rafflesiaceae. The species have enormous flowers, the buds rising from the ground or directly from the lower stems of their host plants; one species has the largest flowers ...
''.
''Balanophora'' species are used in
folk medicine
Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...
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
Johann George Adam Forster, also known as Georg Forster (, 27 November 1754 – 10 January 1794), was a German naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist and revolutionary. At an early age, he accompanied his father, Johann Reinhold F ...
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:
*''
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.
References
Santalales genera
{{Santalales-stub