Taxonomy and Natural History of Hydnora (Hydnoraceae)

Abstract

Hydnora is a genus of subterranean holoparasitic herbs found in arid and semiarid regions of Africa, Madagascar, and the southwestern part of the Arabian peninsula. Results from field and herbarium studies suggest the genus consists of four or five species, although more than 12 have been described. The recent rediscovery of H. triceps, a plant that had remained uncollected for a century, supports the need for additional field work. Taxonomic research has been impeded by a paucity of collections, which are often fragmentary in nature and poorly preserved. Supraspecific classification, species complexes, floral biology, and uses are discussed.

Pollination Biology of Hydnora africana Thunb. (Hydnoraceae) in Namibia: Brood‐Site Mimicry with Insect Imprisonment

“…Harms (1935) used the term "bait bodies" (Koderkörpen) to describe the osmophores. Subsequently, this term has been erroneously applied to hairlike outgrowths on the outer margins of the tepals (Musselman and Visser 1989) that have no role in odor production. Burger et al (1988) investigated the chemical composition of the floral odor produced by a single H. africana flower and reported a suite of compounds, including dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide.…”

“…Hydnora ranges from South Africa across sub-Saharan Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and Madagascar (Jumelle and Perrier de la Bâthie 1912;Musselman and Visser 1989;Beentje and Luke 2001). The apparent center of diversity is southern Africa, where at least three species are currently recognized (Schreiber 1968;Musselman and Visser 1989;Maass and Musselman 2004). The Hydnoraceae also includes Prosopanche.. a New World genus with distinct floral morphology (CcxTucci and Cocucci 1996).…”

“…and its strong fetid odor have attracted botanists interested m its pollination biology (Marloth 1907;Musselman 1984;Visser and Musselman 1986;Burger et al 1988;Musselman and Visser 1989). Hydnora africana sensu lato is known from parts ot Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.…”

Mineral nutrition and heterotrophy in the water conservative holoparasite Hydnora Thunb. (Hydnoraceae)

“…Five Hydnora spp. are currently recognized in Madagascar and Africa, Hydnora abyssinica, H. africana, H. esculenta, H. triceps, H. sinandevu (Beentje and Luke, 2001;Maass and Musselman, 2004;Musselman and Visser, 1989 (Beentje and Luke, 2001;Musselman and Visser, 1989). Among these holoparasites, H. triceps is entirely subterranean with underground (hypogeous) flowering, other Hydnora taxa emerge briefly only to flower .…”

Hydnora ­arabica (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from the Arabian Peninsula and a key to Hydnora

“…abyssinica). The apparent synonymy rife in this subgenus has much to do with the under collection of this largely subterranean plant and the poor condition of the Hydnora herbarium material as discussed in Musselman and Visser (1989) and Bolin et. al (2011).…”