Hydnora triceps
Drege & E. Mey.
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Summary
Source: WikipediaHydnora triceps is a holoparasitic flowering plant native to Africa that grows on the roots of Euphorbia dregeana. Completely lacking in chlorophyll, it depends on its host for water and nutrients. The plant structure is composed of only specialized stems, buds, and haustoria, lacking any leaf-like structures entirely. It spends its life underground and only emerges to flower.
Description
A root parasite. It mostly grows underground. It does not have green chlorophyll. There is one flower. This is 15 cm long and is fleshy. It has 3 lobes.
Edible Uses
The fruit and roots are edible.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. It grows on Euphorbia dregeana in sandy soils.
Where It Grows
Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa,
Notes
Also put in the family Hydnoraceae.
Synonyms
References (2)
- Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 65
- Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
