Parasitic Plants

The Botanical Society of America is pleased to provide the "Parasitic Plant" pages. We are in the early stages of developing this section of our site; check back regularly. In the meantime, enjoy the images (donated by members) and the stories they tell. We hope these strange and interesting plants open up your possibilities for asking new questions about the fascinating lives of plants!

Kingdom: Plantae — Magnoliophyta, magnoliids
Order: Piperales

parasitic plants, Hydnora
 
Family: Hydnoraceae
Genus: Hydnora africana


For more Hydnora information and images - CLICK HERE

 

 

Kingdom: Plantae — Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales

parasitic plants, Allotropa virgata
 
parasitic plant, Monotropa uniflora
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Allotropa
The Sugarstick or Barber's Pole

One species, Allotropa virgata, occupies coniferous and hardwood forest habitats in northern California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Montana and Idaho.
For more Allotropa information and images - CLICK HERE

 
Family: Ericaceae

Two species occupying temperate regions of Asia, North America and northern South America.
For more Monotropa information - CLICK HERE

 
paasitic plants, Pterospora andromedea
 
paasitic plants, Pyrola
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Pterospora andromedea
Pinedrops


More Pterospora information - CLICK HERE

 
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Pyrola
Wintergreen


More Pyrola information - CLICK HERE

 
paasitic plants, Sarcodes sanguinea
 
paasitic plants, Sarcodes sanguinea
Family: Monotropaceae
Genus: Sarcodes
Snow Plant

One species occupying conifer forests of California, Oregon and portions of western Nevada and northern Baja Mexico.
More Sarcodes sanguinea information - CLICK HERE

 
Family: Monotropaceae
Genus: Hemitomes
Gnome Plant


More Hemitomes congestum information - CLICK HERE

 
paasitic plants, Monotropsis odorata
 
paasitic plants, xxxxx
Family: Monotropaceae
Genus: Monotropsis odorata
Pygmy Pipes


More Monotropsis information - CLICK HERE

 
Family: Monotropaceae
 
paasitic plants, Pleuricospora fimbriolata
 
Family: Monotropaceae
 

 

Kingdom: Plantae — Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida
Order: Santalales

parasitic plants, Balanophora fungosa
 
parasitic plant, Helosis
Family: Balanophoraceae
Genus: Balanophora fungosa

~15 species
For more Balanophora fungosa information and images - CLICK HERE

 
Family: Balanophoraceae


For more Helosis information - CLICK HERE

 


Special thanks to Dr. Sherwin Carlquist for his contributions to these pages. References

Intrigued? Want to see more? Take a look at the following pages!

Investigate the American Journal of Botany images & cover stories online: BSA Online Image Collection

Want to surf the web for more interesting plant information? —Try these sites:
Carnivorous Plants / Insectivorous Plants, The Mysterious Venus Flytrap, Flora of North America Carnivorous Plant Fact Sheet

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