Balanophora
Genus of flowering plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balanophora is a genus of parasitic flowering plants in the family Balanophoraceae distributed from tropical Africa and Madagascar, through South and Southeast Asia, Japan, Queensland and the islands of the western Pacific.[2][3][4] There are over 20 accepted species.[1] Many species emit an odour which possibly attracts pollinators in the same way that pollinators are attracted to Rafflesia.[5] The tiny flowers produce some of the smallest seeds known, weighing as little as 7 micrograms each.[6]
| Balanophora | |
|---|---|
| |
| Balanophora fungosa subsp. indica found in northwest Thailand (Hup Patad cave) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Balanophoraceae |
| Genus: | Balanophora J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. [1] |
| Type species | |
| Balanophora fungosa | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Taxonomy
The genus was first described in 1775 by Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg Forster in Characteres Generum Plantarum.[7][8] The name is derived from the ancient Greek words balanos (βάλανος), meaning "acorn" and pherein (φέρειν), meaning "to carry".[9]
Species
As of December 2025[update], Plants of the World Online accepts the following 26 species:[1]
- Balanophora abbreviata Blume
- Balanophora aphylla Luu, H.Ð.Trần & H.C.Nguyen
- Balanophora appressa R.X.Yu & S.Y.Zhou
- Balanophora coralliformis Barcelona, Tandang & Pelser
- Balanophora cucphuongensis Bân
- Balanophora dioica R.Br. ex Royle
- Balanophora elongata Blume
- Balanophora fargesii (Tiegh.) Harms
- Balanophora flava (Hook.f.) Lidén
- Balanophora fungosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
- Balanophora harlandii Hook.f.
- Balanophora involucrata Hook.f. & Thomson
- Balanophora japonica Makino
- Balanophora lalashanensis S.S.Ying
- Balanophora latisepala (Tiegh.) Lecomte
- Balanophora laxiflora Hemsl.
- Balanophora lowii Hook.f.
- Balanophora nipponica Makino
- Balanophora papuana Schltr.
- Balanophora parajaponica R.X.Yu, S.Y.Zhou & Y.Q.Li
- Balanophora polyandra Griff.
- Balanophora reflexa Becc.
- Balanophora subcupularis P.C.Tam
- Balanophora tobiracola Makino
- Balanophora wilderi Setch.
- Balanophora yakushimensis Hatus. & Masam.
In 2025, a new species was described from Tibet and named Balanophora xinfeniae.[10]
Ecology
Balanophora yuwanensis, often considered the same species as B. yakushimensis, is thought to provide the endangered dark-furred Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) of the Ryukyu Archipelago with vegetative tissues as a reward for seed dispersal. Previously, it had been a mystery how seeds of B. yuwanensis were dispersed.[11][12]
Use
Balanophora species are used in folk medicine in many Asian cultures.[4] For example, in Taiwan and China, Balanophora is known as she-gu (snake-fungus) and in Thailand as hoh-ra-tao-su-nak. In both cases, the plant is used to treat a variety of ailments and has various ritual purposes. The tubers of Balanophora are rich in a wax-like substance which is used in Java as a fuel for torches.[5][13]
