Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae: Santalales

Balanophoraceae

Stannard, B.L. (2006) Balanophoraceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3)

Description of the family

Herbaceous, perennial root-parasites without roots or chlorophyll, arising from underground tubers attached to the roots of the host. Leaves spiral or distichous, scale-like. Flowers unisexual. Male flowers: tepals 3-9; stamens 2 or 3(4). Female flowers: perianth segments 0 or 3; 3- or 4-merous; ovary ± inferior; style present or 0. Fruit a 1-seeded achene.

Worldwide: 16 genera and 57 species, mostly tropical.

DRC: 1 genus and 1 taxon.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Thonningia Vahl	Description, Image

Other sources of information about Balanophoraceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Balanophoraceae
Flora of Mozambique: Balanophoraceae
Flora of Rwanda: Balanophoraceae
Flora of Zambia: Balanophoraceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Balanophoraceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Balanophoraceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Balanophoraceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Balanophoraceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Balanophoraceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Balanophoraceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Balanophoraceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Balanophoraceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Balanophoraceae
Wikipedia: Balanophoraceae
Plants of the World Online: Balanophoraceae
Tropicos: Balanophoraceae