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Balanophora dioica
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Family:
BALANOPHORACEAE
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Citation: Balanophora dioica R.Br. in Wall., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 13:227.1831; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 237. 1886; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1263(885). 1925; Swarup. et al., Shola For. Kerala 42. 1998.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Dioecious annual roots parasites. Rootstock tuberous, lobed, 4-6 cm in diameter. Leaves absent, Stem glabrous, fleshy, yellowish-white, unbranched, 10-15 cm long, stout, covered with laxly imbricated scaly leaves. Male flowers densely crowded in an ovoid or club shaped head or inflorescence at the top of stem. Head 5-7 cm long. Flowers unisexual, small. Perianth up to 0.7 cm long, trilobed, tube of the perianth sunk in cavities of the head. Staminal column short, anthers bursting by curved slit.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
November-April
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District(s):
Idukki
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Shola forests
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Distribution:
India and Myanmar
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
Yes
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Flower colour(s):
White
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
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