Fungus Root (Balanophora fungosa)

About Fungus Root (Balanophora fungosa)

• Kingdom: Plants
• Phylum: Vascular Plants
• Class: Dicots
• Order: Sandalwoods, Mistletoes, and allies
• Family: Balanophora

Balanophora fungosa, sometimes known as fungus root, is a flowering plant in the family Balanophoraceae and occurs in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and some Pacific islands. It is a parasite growing on the roots of rainforest trees. The flowering structure is shaped like a puffball but in fact consists of a globe covered with thousands of tiny female flowers. The globe is surrounded at its base by a much smaller number of male flowers. In flower, the plant emits an odour resembling that of mice.