Glossary Details – Lecythidaceae

Glossary Details:

Title: Habit of Helosis cayennensis. Photo by R. Aguilar.

Description: Herbaceous habit of Helosis cayennensis based on Reinaldo Aguilar 11681 from the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. This species is root parasitic and does not produce any carbohydrates through photosynthesis and is, thus, a holoparasite. The host is not visible because Helosis is attached to an undeground stem of the host.

Term:

Holoparasite

Definition:

An achlorophyllous plant that derives all of its nutrition from its host; e.g., species of Balanophoraceae and Rafflesiaceae.

Related Terms:

Parasite (parasitic)
Hemiparasite