Balanophora
Balanophora fungosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Balanophora fungosa is a parasitic flowering plant in the family Balanophoraceae, found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and some Pacific islands. It grows on the roots of rainforest trees and is sometimes called fungus root. Its flowering structure resembles a puffball, composed of a globe of tiny female flowers surrounded at the base by male flowers. The plant emits an odor similar to that of mice when in flower.
Description
Balanophora fungosa (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) is a member of the Balanophoraceae family and is distributed across TW, Assam, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Fiji, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Marianas, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Philippines, Queensland, and other regions. This parasitic plant grows on the roots of rainforest trees. Its reproductive structure is a globe-like mass of minute female flowers, with a smaller number of male flowers at the base. The plant emits a musky odor during flowering.
Other common names
BalanophoraFungus root
Distribution
TW · Assam · Borneo · Cambodia · Caroline Is. · China South-Central · China Southeast · Fiji · Hainan · India · Jawa · Laos · Malaya · Marianas · Myanmar · Nansei-shoto · New Caledonia · New Guinea · Philippines · Queensland · Solomon Is. · Sri Lanka · Sulawesi · Sumatera · Taiwan · Thailand · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Wallis-Futuna Is.
Synonyms
Cynomorium australeCynomorium balanophoraCynomorium fungosumCynomorium parasiticumCynomorium philippense