Balanophoraceae Rich.

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit

"Herbaceous, fleshy plants, entirely or partially subterraneous, ""fungus-like"", parasitic on roots of trees, shrubs or herbs, without chlorophyll, without stomata, with white, yellow, red or brown color; root / stem structure) branched, unbranched, globose, or irregularly shaped, with the inflorescence originating directly from the "" tuber """

Morphology Leaves

Leaves reduced to scales, spirally arranged, margin entire, venation not evident

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence spicate or spadix -shaped, the lateral branches much reduced or absent; bracts scale-like, triangular, ovate, hexagonal or almost round, peltate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual-Male flowers 3- merous, with 3- lobed perianth, or a synandrium of 3 free anthers; anthers 2(3)-locular, basifixed, opening by longitudinal slit Female flowers with a 2- lobed or irregularly- lobed perianth, or absent; ovary inferior; ovary without well-defined locules, placenta, and ovules; styles 1 or 2, stigma minutely capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a minute, 1-seeded achene .

Note

Number of genera: Worldwide 18 genera and 45 species. In the Neotropics, 7 genera and 16 species: Corynaea (1 sp.) Helosis (1 sp.) Langsdorffia (1 sp) Lathrophytum (1 sp.) Lophophytum (4 spp.) Ombrophytum (4 spp.) Scybalium (4 spp.)

Diagnostic

"Key to genera of Neotropical Balanophoraceae Key adapted from Hansen (1980): 1. Style 1; tubers with wax; flowers not embedded in filiform hairs, or anthers 3, merged into a synandrium ... Langsdorffia 1. Styles 2; tubers with starch; flowers with both sexes imbedded in filiform hairs, or anthers 2, not merged into a synandrium ... 2  2. Flowers embedded in a layer of filiform hairs; anthers merged into a usually 3-merous  synandrium ... 32. Flowers not imbedded in hairs, on conspicuous or elongated branches, these subtended by deciduous scale-like bracts; stamens with filaments ... 5 3. Stem and young inflorescence covered by triangular scales ... Scybalium 3. Stem naked, or with a few inconspicuous bracts; young inflorescence covered by hexagonal, peltate bracts ... 4  4. Inflorescence emerging from buds on elongated, rhizome-like structures, these appearing from a ""tuber"" connected with the host root... Helosis 4. Inflorescence emerging directly from a ""tuber"" connected with the host root... Corynaea 5. Inflorescence branches subtended by ovate -triangular bracts; apical part of female branch not peltately enlarged ... Lophophytum 5. Inflorescence branches subtended by hexagonal or irregularly-shaped bracts; apical part of female branch peltately enlarged, covering the flowers ... 6   6. Male flowers solitary, each flower subtended by a peltatebract; anthers sessile... Lathrophytum 6. Male flowers in many-flowered branches, these subtended by a peltate or clavate bract; stamens with evident filaments ... Ombrophytum" Key differences from similar families: Family very distinctive from other parasitic taxa, by its set of unique characters. The other family of subterranean holoparasitic root parasites with subterranean habit is the Hydnoraceae, which is a characterized by a large, fleshy, solitary flower, with 3-4 fleshy tepals, and a large fruit with numerous seeds. "Distinguishing characters (always present): Parasitic plants, on roots trees, shrubs or herbs. Entirely or partially subterraneous. Without chlorophyll. Without stomata. White, yellow, red or brown color. ""Tuber"" branched, unbranched, globose, or irregularly shaped. Inflorescence originating directly from the ""tuber "". Flowers minute, unisexual,: male flowers 3-merous, female flowers 2-merous. Ovary without well-defined locules, placenta, and ovules. Fruit a minute, 1-seeded achene."

Distribution

A poorly known family in terms of distribution, pollination, and number of species, mostly due to their partially or entirely subterranean habit. Some reports of plants visited by flies, bees and wasps, but no definitive studies about their pollination biology. Also, some reports about seed dispersal by ants. Their general physiology is also little-known, as is a family without stomata. Corynaea Hook.f. (1 sp.): Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Helosis Rich. (1 sp.): Mexico, Central America, Greater Antilles, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guianas, throughout southern Brazil. Langsdorffia Mart. (1 sp.): Throughout the Neotropics, from Mexico to southern Brazil. Lathrophytum Eichl. (1 sp.): Brazil (states of Goiás and Rio de Janeiro). Lophophytum Schott & Endl. (4 spp.): Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Ombrophytum Poepp. ex Endl. (4 spp.): Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Scybalium Schott & Endl. (4 spp.): Greater Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazil.

Balanophoraceae, B. Hansen. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1993

Morphology General Habit

Herbaceous, fleshy root-parasites, without chlorophyll and roots, yellowish white to yellow, orange to red or brown to black

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tuber cylindrical or subspherical, branched or unbranched, irregularly corrugated or variously polygonately furrowed or ± warty, subterranean, developing by germination of a fruit on a suitable host root, producing one or more inflorescence-bearing stems

Morphology Stem

Stems with or without leaves, unbranched

Morphology Leaves

Leaves scaly, spirally arranged or distichous, decussate or verticillate, sometimes much reduced

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence branched or appearing spadix-like, the branches much suppressed, rarely composed of minute cymes (Cynomorium L.); branches of first order bracteate, well-developed to totally suppressed, sometimes with the sterile apical part peltately widened; bracts scaly, ± transformed and reduced, triangular or peltate or reduced to a clavate structure, caducous or persistent, Flowers unisexual, rarely bisexual

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers without a perianth, or perianth of 3–7 segments Female flowers without a perianth or with a superior perianth inconspicuously 2-lobed or rarely 3–6-lobed

sex Male

Male flowers without a perianth, or perianth of 3–7 segments

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 1–7 or united into a synandrium, opposite the perianth-segments; anthers dehiscing longitudinally or irregularly

sex Female

Female flowers without a perianth or with a superior perianth inconspicuously 2-lobed or rarely 3–6-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary 1-locular or without a cavity and any definite placenta; styles 1–2(–3), alternate with perianth-lobes; stigma inconspicuous or ± capitellate; generally one few-celled embryo developing in the central tissue of the ovary, surrounded by a few-celled endosperm and a layer of stone cells at maturity

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a small 1-seeded achene

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences simple or branched, with or without bracts Inflorescences simple or branched, with or without bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers borne in involucrate heads or in dense fleshy inflorescences Female flowers: perianth absent or much reduced, 3–several-lobed and adnate to ovary Male flowers: perianth segments (tepals) 3–9; stamens 2–12, free or united into a synandrium Flowers borne in involucrate heads or in dense fleshy inflorescences Female flowers: perianth absent or much reduced, 3–several-lobed and adnate to ovary Male flowers: perianth segments (tepals) 3–9; stamens 2–12, free or united into a synandrium

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary inferior, 1–3-locular, ovules 1–3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1, long, filiform, or absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit indehiscent, aggregated into syncarpia or separate. Fruit indehiscent, aggregated into syncarpia or separate

Note

I have largely followed B. Hansen's treatment in his ‘Balanophoraceae of Continental Africa’ (Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 106: 359–377 (1986)).

Distribution

A family of about 18 genera and 40–45 species in the tropics and subtropics.

Morphology General Habit

Herbaceous parasites on roots of woody plants, without chlorophyll, usually brightly coloured, fleshy, arising from underground tubers attached to host plant, monoecious, dioecious or polygamous Herbaceous parasites on roots of woody plants, without chlorophyll, usually brightly coloured, fleshy, arising from underground tubers attached to host plant, monoecious, dioecious or polygamous

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers cylindrical or subspherical, irregularly lobed or emitting branched cylindrical rhizomes Tubers cylindrical or subspherical, irregularly lobed or emitting branched cylindrical rhizomes

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizomes with or without scaly leaves Rhizomes with or without scaly leaves

sex Male

Male flowers: perianth segments (tepals) 3–9; stamens 2–12, free or united into a synandrium

sex Female

Female flowers: perianth absent or much reduced, 3–several-lobed and adnate to ovary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Style 1, long, filiform, or absent Ovary inferior, 1–3-locular, ovules 1–3