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Mitrastemon
Mitrastemon yamamotoi
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A highly unusual holoparasitic plant that parasitizes the roots of evergreen oaks (Quercus/Castanopsis). Lacking chlorophyll, the entire plant is white to pale reddish. An endemic variety occurs in Shikoku, Kyushu, and the Nansei Islands.
Identification Points
- βHoloparasitic plant lacking chlorophyll; entirely white to pale reddish
- βParasitizes roots of Fagaceae (oaks, Castanopsis, etc.)
- βStems, leaves, and flowers all fleshy and highly reduced
Habitat
Evergreen broadleaf forest floor (on roots of Fagaceae)
Season
NovemberβApril (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Herb
Habitat
Forest
Petal count
4 petals
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Positionγ€γγ³γ½γ¦η§ β
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Ericales > Mitrastemonaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene to Neogene (ca. 30 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Mitrastemonaceae is an independent holoparasitic family, sometimes considered related to Rafflesiaceae. It has completely lost photosynthetic ability, representing an extreme evolutionary specialization in host dependency.
View on evolution timeline βSources & References
AI-generated, needs verification