pp. 148-152 in Hansen (1972)

11. Balanophora laxiflora Hemsl.

Illustrations. General habit: Fig. 40. – Spadicles, cuticle: PL. 3D. – male-flower: Fig. 1. – Pollen: PL. 7 L, M. - Map: Fig. 14.

 Balanophora laxiflora HEMSL. in FORB. & HEMSL., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 26: 410. Pl. 9. 1894; DIELS, FI. Centr.-Chin.: 307.1901; TIEGH., Ann. ScL Nat. Bot. Ser. 9. 6: 149. 1907; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 332. 1935. – Type: HENRY 7112, holotype at K.

Polyplethia hexamera TIEGH., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Ser. 9. 6: 195. 1907; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 7: 270. 1909. - Balanophora hexamera (TIEGH.) LEc., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 62: 212. 1915; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 334. 1935. – Acroblastum hexamerum (TIEGH.) SETCH., Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 19: 146. 1935. –Type: syntypes FARGES 13 (selected by the author as lectotype), 413 and 713, all at P.

Balanophora parvior HAY., J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 25: 192. t. 34. 1908; SASAKI, List PL. Formos.: 166. 1928; Rep. Gov. Res. Inst. Formosa 9: 188.1930; Y AMAM., Annual Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard. I: 97. 1931; KUDO & MASAM., ibid. 2: 48.1932; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 334.1935. Polyplethiaparvior (HAY.) Y AMAM., Contr. Herb. Taihoku Imp. Univ. 35: 406. 1933; J. Soc. Trop. Agric. 5: 406. 1933. – Balania parvior (HAY.) MASAM., Trans. Nat. Soc. Taiwan 23: 205. 1933. – Acroblastum parvius (HAY.) SETCH. & Y AMAM. in SETCH., Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 19: 146. 1935. – Polyplethia minor NAKAI, J. Jap. Bot. 15: 748. 1939 nom. illeg. –Type: KAWAKAMI & MORI 2227, not seen.

Balanophora spicata HAY., J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 25: 192. t. 33. 1908; SASAKI, List PL. Formos.: 166. 1928; YAMAM., Annual Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard. 1: 97. 1931; KUDO & MASAM., ibid. 2: 48. 1932; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 334. 1935. – Balania spicata (HAY.) MASAM., Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Taiwan 23: 205. 1933. – Acroblastum spicatum (HAY.) SETCH., Univ. Calif. PubI. Bot. 19: 147. 1935. – Polyplethia spicata (HAY.) NAKAI, J. Jap. Bot. 15: 748. 1939. – Type: NAGASAVA Nov. 1905, not seen.

Balanophora formosana HAY., Ic. Pl. Formos. 3: 168. 1913; SASAKI, List PL. Formos.: 166. 1928; Y AMAM., Annual Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard. 1: 94. 1931; KUDO & MASAM., ibid. 2: 48. 1932; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 332. 1935. – Balania formosana (HAY.) MASAM., Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Taiwan 23: 204. 1933. – Polyplethia formosana (HAY.) NAKAI, J. lap. Bot. 15: 748. 1939. – Type: SA&AKI, Taiwan, not seen.

Balanophora morrisonicola HAY., Ic. PL. Formos. 5: 198. 1915; SASAKI, List PL. Formos.: 116, 1928; Y AMAM., Annual Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard. 1: 96. 1931; KUDO & MASAM., ibid. 2: 48. 1932; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 334. 1935. - Polyplethia morrisonicola (HAY.) NAKAI, J. Jap. Bot. 15: 748.1939. – Type: KAWAKAMI & SASAKI s.n., Mt. Morrison, not seen.

Balanophora oshimae YAMAM., Annual Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard. 1: 96.1931; KUDO & MASAM., ibid. 2: 48. 1932; HARMS, Nat. Pflanzenf. ed. 2. 16b: 334. 1935. – Polyplethia oshimae (Y AMAM.) Y AMAM., Contr. Herb. Taihoku Imp. Univ. 34: 354. 1933; J. Soc. Trop. Agric. 5: 354. 1933. - Type: YAMAMOTO & MOROTOMI 24.10. 1930, holotype at TAl (the label gives YAMAMOTO only).

Balanophora dioica auct. non R. BR. ex ROYLE: MATSUM. & HAY., J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 22: 358. 1906; MATSUM., Index Pl. Japon. 2. 2: 51. 1912; SASAKI, List PI. Formos.: 166. 1928; Y AMAM., Annual Rep. Taihoku Bot. Gard. 1: 94. 1931;

KUDO & MASAM., ibid. 2: 48. 1932.

Balanophora indica auct. non (ARN.) GRIFF.: HANCE, J. Bot. 21: 356. 1883.

 Description based on wet and dry material: Dioecious plants (inflorescences unisexual), deep crimson to dark red, turning purple. Length of male-plants from fusion with host root to top of inflorescence (8-) 10-20 (-30) cm, of female-plants (7.5-) 10-15 (-20) cm. Tubers in a mass branching almost from the base. Single tuber subspherical or slightly longer than wide, 1-3 cm by 1-2.5 cm. Surface fine granular with stellate warts. Leaves opposite, decussate in 2-7 pairs or sometimes distichous, rarely opposite in lower part of stem, distichous in upper part and apparently spirally arranged in a transitional zone, 2-2.5 cm by 1-1.5 cm. male-inflorescence (3-) 6-12 (-18) cm long and (0.5-) 1-1.5 (-2) cm wide, slender and tapering. Bracts absent or each bract reduced to 2 short, blunt bodies below the flower. Pedice1s absent or extremely short, less than 1 mm. male-flowers zygomorphic on account of slight lateral elongation, normally 6-merous and then with 2 truncate, median tepals and 4 acute, lateral tepals; sometimes 4-5-merous or 7-12-merous flowers are found, especially towards the proximal and distal parts of inflorescences. Tepals 2-3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, subequal in size, or the 2 median ones slightly wider than the 4 lateral ones. Synandrium much depressed, low-domeshaped, subcircular or slightly elliptic, being laterally elongated, anterior-posterior width 4.5-5 mm, lateral width 6 mm. Anther cells in all specimens studied are many times transversally divided into smaller locelli about 2 times longer than wide. Pollen-grains 3-porate or polypantoporate with 8-12 apertures. Apertures circular or sometimes irregularly shaped, easily distinguished or sometimes diffuse. Shape spheroidal, in polar view circular. Diam. (16.9-) 17.8 (-19.3) µ. Exine granular all over. Granules 0.3-0.5 µ high, hemispherical. Female-inflorescence (2-) 3-5 (-6) cm long and (0.8-) 1.5-2 (-3) cm wide, ellipsoid. Spadicles 1100-1500 µ long with a cylindrical lower part about 100-150 µ wide and an obovoid, truncate top part about 600 µ long and wide; cuticular ridges on top cells low and inconspicuous. Cells at the very top with numerous short ridges. Flowers on main axis of inflorescence as well as on lower part of spadicles. Largest flowers with pistils about 900 µ long and carpels about 270 µ long and 160 µ wide.

Distribution: Tibet, China, Taiwan, Indo-China.

Ecology: In forests at 300-3000 m alt. Flowering season Aug.-Febr., 79% of all collections from Aug.-Oct. Parasitizing various trees and shrubs. Hosts recorded: Alnus formosana (BuRK.) MAK. (Betulac.), Celastrus sp. (Celastr.), Rhododendron sp. (Ericac.), Quercus sp. (Fagac.,) Pinus sp. (Pinac.), Elatostema sp., Pilea sp. (Urtic.).

 Notes: Distinguished from Balanophora polyandra and B. latisepala by its 6-merous flowers and from B. latisepala also by its mostly multilocellate anther cells. Balanophora spicata HAYATA, the type of which I have not been able to trace, was described and illustrated as having simple anther-cells; in all other respects it seems to be a typical B. laxiflora and is stated here as a synonym.

 Specimens studied:

 1. C. and E. Asian subcontinent: Tibet: FORREST 19034, Tsarong, Salween-Kweichiang divide, 28°40'N 98°15'E, Aug. 1919; idem 19049, Tsarong, Salween-Kweichiang divide, 28°40'N 98°15'E, Aug. 1919; idem 20383, Tsarong, Salween-Kweichiang divide, 28°24'N 98°24'E, alt. 9-10000 ft, Sept. 1921; China: FARGES 13, E. Szechwan, distr. de Chien-kou-tin, Kou-ky, Sept. 1896; idem 413 & 713, E. Szechwan, distr. de Chien-kou-tin; HENRY 7112, E. Szechwan; FABER 179, Szechwan, Mt. Omei, alt. 8000 ft; WANG 8130, Szechwan, Omei-hsien, Mt. Omei, 29.10.1942; WILSON s.n., W. Hupeh; HENRY 6689, Hupeh, Fang; idem 7934, Hupeh, Fang; DOHR 12808, Hupeh, auffelsigen Bergen bei Dschondschou; DUCLOUX 1009, Yunnan, Lao Kouy Chan pres My Le, plante cueillie par PAUL NGUEOU, 28.8.1908; idem 4006, Yunnan, Lao Kouy Chan pres My Le, plante cueillie par PAUL NGUEOU, 7.8.1906; idem 6876, Yunnan, Songpin, region de Pintchouantckeou, plante cueillie par JEAN PY, 22.8.1911; FORREST 9018, Yunnan, Western flank of the Shweli-Salween divide, 25°20'N, alt. 10-11000 ft, Aug. 1912; idem 9020, Yunnan, western flank of the Shweli-Salween divide, 25°20'N, alt. 10-11000 ft, Aug. 1912; idem 18347, Yunnan, N'- Maikha- Salween divide, 26°30'N, alt. 7-8000 ft, Aug. 1919; MAIRE s.n., Yunnan, collines de Tchen-fong-chan, alt. 700 m, Sept.; FABER s.n., Kwang-tung, Canton, Mt. Lo-Fu Shan, Sept. 1882; MELL. 900, N. Kwangtung, hills of Lungtou-schan 60 km E. of Shao-kuan alt. 800 m, 5.10.1917; Taiwan: HENRY s.n., 1894; idem 2008, Bankimsing mountains, 1892-1895; YAMAMOTO s.n., provo Kawarenko, Naitaroko trans Hagisaka, alt. 4500 ft, 24.10.1930; SASAKI, S. s.n., Mt. Niitaka, Oct. 1927; idem s.n., Taihokusyu, Kyudaiensynrin, 23.11.1932; idem s.n., Taihoku, Oct. 1923; PRICE 936, S. of Arisan, above Tapanstra, alt. 6000 ft, 19.10. 1912; GRIF 21818, Mt. Arizan, alt. 8000 ft, 9.10.1927; HUANG, Kou & KAO 1039, Ching-shui-kou, Nantou Hsien, 18.2.1959; SUZUKI, S. 325, Niitakagun, Hosya Kusu­nokizinzya, 13.10.1935; idem 2939, Mt. Pa-shen-shan (Hassenzan), 22.10.1929; idem 11014, inter Kiriyama et Tiponzae, 30.8.1932; SUZUKI, T. 18424, Taihokusyo, Bunzangun, Tyakon, Bannohu, Sirebo, alt. 300 m, Nioitabu Gunso, Hirohonokimidu ni tuku, 21.9.1938; idem 18673, Taihokusyo, Bunzangun, Takayama, alt. 1600 m, Taiwanbuna Gunso, 26.8.1935; idem 19195, Taihokusyo, Bunzangun, Tonroku, Takayama, alt. 1500 m, Taiwanbuna Gunso, 29.8.1935; idem 19449, Taitotyo, Sinkogun, Kusuhara, Kwannonzangoe, alt. 900 m, Hosobasirakasi Gunso, 15.9. 1939; idem 20615, Sintikusyu, Taikogun, Rodudyotaizan, alt. 2200 m, Kasi noki no Hayasi, 5.10.1940; idem 20911, Mt. Sia, alt. 1600 m, 19.11.1940; idem 20926, Mt. Nan-Men, alt. 1600 m, 17.11.1940; LIU, CHEN & KAO 215, Hwaling, Mukwashan forests, the cableway no 2 to 3, alt. 1500-1850 m, 14.8.1956; TAGAWA1349, Takao, between Masuhoaru and Nakanoseki, Kizan-gun, 30.11.1938; idem 1553, Takao, between Oogidaira and Sansaro in the basin of the river Sango-kei, Kizan-gun, 13.12.1938; idem 1597, Takao, Oohara in the basin of the river Sangokei, Kizan-gun, 13.12.1938; ITO s.n., Kwarenko 13.8.1913; KOYAMA 23982, Chiai (Kagi), en route from Tonpu to Alishan, at the vicinity of Zichu, alt. 2400 m, 15.9.1964; Hainan: How 73590, Po-Ling, alt. 3600 ft, Sept. 1935.

3. Indo-Chinese subcontinent: Laos: POILANB 1980, Sam Neua, recolte entre Ban Nga et Sam Neua, 25.9.1920; idem 2123, Somma (?), 18.10.1920;Vietnam: idem 35798, Annam, massif du Ngok Pan, Kontum, alt. 2300 m, 12.12.1946.