Odd parasitic plant with fleshy flowers identified as new species of hydnora

A review of hydrangea plants identified one new species based on preserved specimens and revived two others, bringing the total number to 10

To madeleine cuff

A new species of foul-smelling parasitic plant known as Hydnora has been identified from preserved specimens.

Hydnolas live without photosynthesis, so they don’t look like typical plants because they don’t have leaves. Instead, they leach nutrients out of the roots of host plants, often acacia trees and euphorbia succulents.

Native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the warty stems are mostly hidden underground. However, once a year, after heavy rains, a fleshy flower similar to thick-skinned papaya blooms. When the flowers are fully open, they smell feces to attract pollinating dung beetles.

Hydnora also grows underground and produces a potato-like fruit. It is highly astringent and is sometimes used for tanning and preserving fishing nets.

Previously, only eight hydronora species were known to science, first described in 1775. Now, after reviewing the scientific literature and preserved specimens, Sebastian Hatt and his colleagues at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London say there are at least 10 different species.These include new species Hydnora bolinii, found in Ethiopia and Somalia, and differs from other species in the shape of its fleshy petals.Research also redefines Hydnora hanningtonii When Hydnora solmsiana as a different species.

But the team says much more research is needed to get this extraordinary plant right, including why it targets specific host plants and how different species are endangered. says it is necessary.

reference: bioRxiv, DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.13.512068

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