A Most Interesting Parasitic Flower

Category: Ecology
Date: November 10th 2009
By: tumaren

On a recent backpacking trip through the Mathew’s Range we ran into a few examples of this most stunning plant.  A bit of research suggested that it could possibly be Hydnora africana, a parasitic of Euphorbia.  The description that we found online though shows a Euphorbia very different from the ones that we have in the Mathews and we wondered if  this Hydnora could possibly be a different species.

…Interesting.  Anyone have a clue?

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5 Comments

  1. Dana-Phoenix Arizona
    Posted November 10, 2009 at 11:18 am | Permalink

    I haven’t a clue, but this certainly is a stunning although odd looking plant.

  2. ol-Payian Froggo
    Posted November 17, 2009 at 4:49 pm | Permalink

    Message received from Olmurrani(Warrior) Patrick Papatiti…!
    This caught my sight, we ate a lot of these when we were Herding, it si called “ERUKUNYI” it goes well with milk, it is not generally a recommended Diet but Ilayiok (the Boys) did not care much….!!! I have asked olmurrani Patrick to add to this, thank you…Ashe Oleng…! olpayian Froggo

  3. tumaren
    Posted November 18, 2009 at 12:17 am | Permalink

    Sopa Ol Payian
    thanks for your insight. Where did you encounter these plants?. Fascinating that it is edible. The guys who work for us (Masai and Samburu) did not have a name for it but they come from Laikipia and probably had never seen it before. cheers, james

  4. Len Newton
    Posted December 6, 2009 at 11:50 pm | Permalink

    The flower is Hydnora abyssinica, which is quite widespread in East Africa. It is parasitic on roots of several tree species in drier areas. The leafless stems are entirely underground, and only the flower appears above ground. See SWARA magazine, volume 29, part 3, pages 56-58 (2006).

    Len Newton

  5. tumaren
    Posted December 7, 2009 at 12:09 am | Permalink

    Thanks Len. Very interesting. Cheers, James

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