Authority:

Hansen, Bertel. 1980. Balanophoraceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 23: 1-80. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family:

Balanophoraceae

Synonyms:

Senftenbergia Klotzsch & H.Karst., Thonningia

Description:

Genus Description - Fleshy root parasites. Tuber rhizome-like, often more or less horizontal and elongated, cylindrical, often branched, slightly swollen at point of contact with host root. Inflorescence-bearing stems breaking through buds on the tuber, leaving a lobed volva basally. Stem short or elongated, with numerous spirally arranged, triangular lanceolate, scaly leaves. Inflorescences unisexual, cylindrical in male specimens and hemispherical in female specimens, unbranched. Male flowers pedicellate, trimerous. Perianth segments 3. Stamens connate into a synandrium. Anthers 3, horseshoe-shaped with the bend upwards. Pollen grains spheroid, (3-)4(-5)-porate, medium-sized, 2-nucleate. Female flowers linear-prismatic, ebracteate. Perianth narrowly tubular; style 1, exserted. Ovary apparently without a cavity. Fruit a small, 1-seeded achene.

Distribution:

Mexico North America| Central America| South America|