Balanophor harlandii is an interesting parasitic plant that emerges from the ground in autumn and winter. The plant can be classified as an obligate root holoparasite. The species is relatively common when compared with other root parasites and myco-heterotrophs found in Hong Kong. Maybe that is due to it's relatively large plant size which makes the species easily spotted on the forest ground. Personally, I've seen the species in a few locations in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The plant is red to yellow in color resembling the shape of a mushroom in shape. As a result, many people (including me when I first saw the plant) misidentified the species as a fungi. The species seems to have completely lost its ability to photosynthesize, with leaves reduced to scale like structures. It is usually found in forests and seems to be getting its nutrition from roots of trees. The following pictures are taken in Hong Kong Island in autumn.
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Plant growing out showing underground structure
(Note: I did not dig the plant up, it was like that when I saw it) |
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| Yellowish female |
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| Yellowish male plant |
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| Yellowish male flower |
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| Older yellowish male flowers |
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| Red female plant |
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| Red male plant |
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| Cropped image of female flowers |
