Helosis cayanensis (Sw.) Spreng.
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Authority
Hansen, Bertel. 1980. Balanophoraceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 23: 1-80. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Balanophoraceae
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Scientific Name
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Synonyms
Cynomorium cayennense Sw., Helosis guyanensis Rich., Helosis brasiliensis Schott & Endl., Caldasia cayennensis (Sw.) Mutis ex Steud., Helosis guyanensis f. brasilensis (Schott & Endl.) Eichler, Caldasia brasiliensis (Schott & Endl.) Kuntze, Helosis mexicana Liebm.
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Description
Species Description - Description based on wet and dried specimens. Fleshy orange-red to brown-red root parasites. Subterranean system formed by a subspherical, starchy, central tuber, 4-5 x 3-4 cm, at point of contact with the host root; from the central tuber a number of horizontal, rhizome-like structures spread in the soil in all directions, apparently forming new tubers at contact with possible host roots. Supraterranean, inflorescence-bearing stems appear from buds on the rhizome-like organs, (l-)5-10(-31) cm long and (0.2-)0.4-0.6(-l.l) cm diam. Bud scales 2-6, free or often joined into a ring-like mark, mostly inserted at the same level close to the base of the stem, sometimes inserted at higher levels. Inflorescence ellipsoid or ovoid (0.7-)2-4(-7.2) cm long and (0.6-)l-2(-3.4) cm wide, covered by the flattened or conical, marginally cohering, hexagonal peltas of peltate, petiolate bracts when young. Bracts with pelta 3.5-4.5 mm diam. and 2.2-2.3 mm thick, flattened or with a low, conical knob in the centre, petiole 2.2.-2.4 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide below and 1-1.2 mm wide in upper part, early deciduous. Each bract subtends an extremely depressed, hardly discernible branch delimitated by imaginary lines between the petioles of four neighboring bracts. Branch bisexual and strongly pro-terogynous. Flowers embedded in a dense layer of filiform, narrowly clavate hairs, which are 1.5-2.3 mm long. Male flowers with perianth tubular below and 3-lobed in upper part, segments ligulate, 2 x 1 mm. Stamens 3, filaments united into a tubular column inserted in the perianth tube; free tubular part of column 1.5-2 mm long and 0.4-0.6 mm wide, in upper part split into 3 filaments 0.4-0.7 mm long and 0.2-0.3 mm wide, which carries the synandrium. Anthers connate into a 9-locular synandrium with the locules longitudinally arranged; synandrium spheroidal, 0.9-1.1 mm diam. A short, conical structure 0.5 mm long protrudes from the receptacle into the basal part of the perianth tube (rudimentary ovary ?). Female flower with perianth adnate to ovary, 2 short and broad ligulate segments protruding above ovary, compressed with edge generally facing petioles of bracts, 1.2 mm long and 0.4-0.5 mm wide. Styles 2, filiform, 1.2-1.5 mm long, appearing above layer of hairs, caducous; stigma capitellate. Fruit a small, 1-seeded achene.