Balanophora fungosa subsp. fungosa
Balanophora fungosa subsp. fungosa
Balanophora fungosa subsp. 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 emits an odor resembling that of mice when in flower.
Description
This plant produces a puffball-like flowering structure composed of a globe covered with thousands of tiny female flowers, surrounded at its base by a smaller number of male flowers. It is commonly known as fungus root and is adapted to a parasitic lifestyle in tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems.
Synonyms
Balanophora forsteriBalanophora fungosa f. extratropicaBalanophora fungosa var. kuroiwaiBalanophora fungosa var. mariannaeBalanophora kuroiwaiBalanophora mariannaeBalanophora micholitzii