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More
about
Dactylanthus
taylorii
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Dactylanthus
taylorii
flower
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Dactylanthus
taylorii
is
the
only
fully
parasitic
flowering
plant
endemic
to
New
Zealand.
A
member
of
the
mainly
tropical
family
Balanophoraceae,
it
lives
mainly
underground
attached
to
the
roots
of
a
number
of
native
tree
and
shrub
species,
where
it
forms
a
characteristic
distortion
on
the
host
root
in
the
area
of
attachment
(the
so-called
woodrose).
In
autumn,
each
plant
produces
inflorescences
filled
with
nectar
which
emeerge
just
above
the
forest
floor.
D.
taylorii
is
dioecious,
producing
male
and
female
inflorescences
on
different
individuals.
The
endemic
short-tailed
bat
(Mystacina
tuberculata)
is
so
far
the
only
confirmed
native
pollinator.
Mice
and
introduced
ship-
and
Norway
rats
have
been
shown
to
be
introduced
pollinators,
though
rats
often
destroy
flowers
rather
than
pollinate.
Dactylanthus
taylorii
grows
as
a
root
parasite
consisting
mainly
of
a
round
warty
rhizome
up
to
50
cm
in
diameter,
attached
to
the
root
of
a
host
tree
or
shrub.
In
response
to
dactylanthus
the
attached
area
of
host
root
moulds
itself
into
the
shape
of
a
fluted
wooden
rose
(the
woodrose).
Dactylanthus
obtains
its
nutrients
from
the
host
plant
through
this
attachment.
It
has
no
green
leaves
or
roots
of
its
own.
At
this
stage
it
is
known
to
parasitise
about
30
species
of
native
trees
and
shrubs.
Many
of
these
host
species
are
seral
and
found
mainly
on
forest
margins
or
disturbed
areas.
Mahoe,
lemonwood,
lancewood,
kohuhu,
wineberry,
broadleaf,
fivefinger,
pate,
karamu
and
putaputaweta
are
common
hosts.
It
is
not
known
from
non-native
species,
gymnosperms
or
monocotyledons.
Dactylanthus
prefers
damp
well-drained
sites,
and
is
never
found
on
really
dry
sites.
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