Langsdorffia
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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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Type
Type species. Langsdorffia hypogaea Mart, in Eschw., J. Bras. 2: 179, t. 5. 1818.
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Synonyms
Senftenbergia Klotzsch & H.Karst., Thonningia
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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.
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Distribution
Tropical rain forests and mixed forests from Mexico through Central America to tropical South America.
Mexico North America| Central America| South America|