Balanophora family
Balanophoraceae Rich.
ツチトリモチ科
A family of holoparasitic plants distributed in tropical to subtropical regions, comprising about 17 genera and 44 species. They lack chlorophyll and parasitize the roots of host plants. In Japan, Balanophora japonica and related species occur in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Okinawa.
Key Characteristics
- ●Holoparasitic plants lacking chlorophyll with no photosynthetic capacity
- ●Inflorescence is a fleshy, club-shaped to globular mass, red to orange
- ●Flowers are extremely reduced and simplified
- ●Possess specialized haustoria connecting to host roots
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Petal count
3 petals / 4 petals / 5 petals / 6 petals / Many
Ovary position
Superior / Inferior / Half-inferior
Plant sex
Dioecious / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Santalales > Balanophoraceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (ca. 70–60 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Complete loss of photosynthetic ability and transition to holoparasitism
- ・Extreme reduction and simplification of floral organs
- ・Taxonomic reclassification into Santalales under APG IV
Plants in Balanophora family on this site
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