Sapria himalayana
Sapria himalayana Griff.
Sapria himalayana, commonly known as the hermit's spittoon, is a holoparasitic flowering plant in the family Rafflesiaceae. It is completely dependent on its host plant for water, nutrients, and photosynthetic products, which it absorbs through specialized root structures called haustoria connected to the host's xylem and phloem.
Description
Sapria himalayana is found in regions including Assam, China South-Central, the East Himalaya, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. It is closely related to Rafflesia and is an example of extreme parasitism in the plant kingdom. The species was first described in 1844 by Griff. and is notable for its lack of independent photosynthetic capability.
Distribution
Assam · China South-Central · East Himalaya · Myanmar · Thailand · Tibet · Vietnam
Synonyms
Sapria griffithiana