Volume 2 > Part 2 > Year 1972 > Page 178 > Balanophoraceae > Balanophora

1. Balanophora abbreviata Blumewfo-0000558623

En. Pl. Jav. 1: 87. 1827; B.Hansen, Dansk Bot. Ark. 28: 84. 1972.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Monoecious plants (inflorescences bisexual); length from fusion with host root to top of inflorescences (3–)5–10(–15) cm. Tubers single or several together in a mass, branching from the base. Single tubers obconical, narrow at base, broadening near top to (1–)1.7(–2) cm, length (1.1–)2.5(–3.5) cm. Leaves 3–7, distichous, slightly imbricate, ovate, obtuse or emarginate, cucullate, 1–2 cm by 0.7–1.5 cm. Inflorescence: ♀ part ovoid (1.0–)1.5(–2.5) cm by (0.5–)1.0(–2.3) cm; ♂ flowers 10–20, sessile in a zone 0.5–2 cm high just below 2 part, (3–)4–5(–8)–merous, slightly to conspicuously zygomorphic on account of lateral elongation. A 4-merous flower has two narrow, ovate, acute lateral tepals and two wide, truncate, almost square median tepals, 1.5–2 mm long. Synandrium about 1 mm long, slightly compressed, lateral width 1.5–2 mm, anterior-posterior width 0.5–0.7 mm. Anther loculi 16–20, parallel, running from base to top of synandrium.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani.

Distribution : Tropical Africa, Madagascar and Comoros, India, S China, Hainan, Cambodia, Andaman Islands, Malesia (Java – type), Tahiti.

Ecology : In evergreen forests from sea level, to ca 1,000 m alt. Flowering: (July–) October–December. Host not recorded from Thailand, outside Thailand mostly Ficus species and Hibiscus tiliaceus.

Vernacular : Nun din (หนุนดิน)(Northern); hora thao sunak (โหราเท้าสุนัข)(Central); bon (บอน)(Peninsular).