Global InformationHydnora africana information
| Hydnora africana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowers, Karasburg Constituency, Namibia | |
| |
| Partially opened flower, near Robertson, South Africa | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Aristolochiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Hydnoroideae |
| Genus: | Hydnora |
| Species: | H. africana
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| Binomial name | |
| Hydnora africana Thunb.
| |
Hydnora africana is an achlorophyllous plant in the subfamily Hydnoroideae, native to southern Africa that is parasitic on the roots of members of the family Euphorbiaceae.[1] It is also called jakkalskos or jackal food.[2] The specific epithet africana means to be from Africa.[3] Molecular data has suggested that Hydnoroideae is a "basal angiosperm" solidifying its place among the more primitive flowering plants.[1] Hydnoraceae are the only angiosperms known to have no leaves or scales and are considered obligate parasites, completely dependent on their hosts to survive.[4] The plant grows underground, except for a fleshy flower that emerges above ground and emits an odour of faeces to attract its natural pollinators, dung beetles and carrion beetles.[5] The vegetative body of the plants has been reduced to consisting only of roots and flowers.[4] The flowers act as temporary traps, retaining the beetles that enter long enough for them to pick up pollen.[6]
- ^ a b "Hydnora africana". Botanical Society of America. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019.
- ^ "Hydnora africana Thunb". SA National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ Voigt, Werner (June 2008). "Hydnora africana". PlantZAfrica. Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ a b "The Genus Hydnora". Parasitic Plants. Old Dominion University. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Waser, Nickoloas Merritt; Ollerton, Jeff, eds. (2006). "Table 6.1: Angiosperms with rewardless flowers". Plant-Pollinator Interactions: From Specialization to Generalization. University of Chicago Press. pp. 126–9. ISBN 0-226-87400-1.
- ^ "BSA Parasitic Plant Pages- Hydnora africana". Botanical Society of America. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.