Aristolochiaceae

Hydnora Thunb.

First published in Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Handl. 36: 69 (1775)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Eritrea to S. Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula.

Descriptions

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Subterranean holoparasitic herbs with often massive root systems spreading laterally from the host
Morphology Roots
Roots up to 10 cm wide, 4–5-angled, terete or sometimes flattened
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers large, solitary, 3–5-merous, fleshy, bisexual or unisexual; perianth-lobes valvate in bud, later erect or reflexed, in some species “bait bodies” are present between the inner margins of the lobes, in others an osmophoric (scent-producing) region (“cucullus”) is present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens basifixed with large many-celled sessile anthers; differs from Prosopanche in having 1 whorl of stamens only and no staminodes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with numerous infolded, pendent placentas; stigmas sessile with distinct grooves on the surface
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit fleshy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, minute.
Distribution
About six species in Africa, Madagascar and Arabia
[FSOM]

Hydnoraceae, Lytton J. Musselman. Flora Zambesiaca 9:2. 1997

Morphology General Habit
Subterranean root parasites. Plant-body a large, verrucose, firmly-fleshy “rhizome” with widely spreading branches.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers arising directly from the plant body and remaining partially below ground level, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, solitary, 3–4(5)-merous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth fleshy-coriaceous, valvately 3–4(5)-lobed; the lobes equalling or exceeding the perianth tube in length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Androecium inserted on the hypanthium, comprising a complex structure of 3–4(5) fused anthers in the form of a large undulating ring with very numerous horizontally elongate pollen sacs; undulations opposite the perianth lobes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary inferior, unilocular, with numerous infolded, pendant accrescent placentas; ovules numerous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma sessile, cushion-shaped, 3–5-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a subterranean fleshy berry with a woody pericarp; seeds numerous in a flesh-coloured pulp, minute.
[FZ]

Hydnoraceae, Henk Beentje & Quentin Luke. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit
Leafless, chlorophyll-less, root parasites; plant body subterranean, large, warty, rhizome-like structure with many branches
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers arising directly from the plant body, partly subterranean
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers sessile, forming a lobed ring on the hypanthium, with elongate, bisporangiate pollen sacs with longitudinal slits
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma mostly 3–5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a subterranean fleshy berry with a woody pericarp; seeds many.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0