User:Bfollowell32/Hydnora africana

Description

Molecular data has suggested that Hydnoraceae is a "basal angiosperm" solidifying its place among the more primitive flowering plants. The vegetative body of the plants has been reduced to only consisting of roots and flowers. Given their extensive evolutionary path, these parasites are highly modified, making their relationships difficult to determine. Hydnoraceae are the only angiosperms known to have no leaves or scales and are considered obligate parasites, completely dependent on their hosts to survive.

Morphology

The vegetative parts of this plant are more similar in appearance to a fungus than a plant. The plant is composed of thick succulent roots with no stems and the flower develops on surfaces of the host's roots. The flower is used as a temporary trap in order to facilitate pollination. The flower has a succulent and thick texture, the portion that appears above ground is tubular with three openings. There are three structures botanically named perianth segments which can be compared to sepals that unite at the top of the flower. The interior of the flower is orange, this is where the perianth segments join and a short tube is present. The anterior portion of the tube there are yellowish-orange structures extend into the tube, these are the anther groups. These groups of anthers are held in bunches and are used as the flowers stamens. The anther groups are arranged into a triangle so that a gap forms between their pits and the beetles will proceed to fall down onto the stigma of the parasitic plant. The basal portion of the flower there is a cavity that houses the white ovules that will mature into seeds. The smell is given off by an ivory-colored pad of tissue in the center of the flower, the smell can be likened to the scent of dung which attracts dung beetles and other carrion beetles. The majority of the flower is covered below the soil surface. Hydnroa africana produces an enzyme that allows it to dissolve the roots of the host plant so that it may attach to it.

Uses

Hydnora Africana can be harvested and used as food, medicine, and a good source of tannin.