Description based on wet and dry specimens. Dioecious (inflorescence unisexual), red-orange to pink or dark red root parasites. Total length from point of contact with host root (4-)9-l 1 (-23) cm. Tuber subspherical, 1-5 cm diam., giving out short, cylindrical, horizontal rhizome-like structures about 1 cm diam. Stem appearing at intervals from rhizome-like organs or sometimes apparently directly from the tuber, cylindrical, (2-)5-8(-18) cm long and 0.7-1.5 cm wide. Leaves scaly, numerous in 6 vertical ranks, first densely imbricate, almost triangular, acute (6-)7-9(-l 1) mm long and (5-)7-10 mm wide at base, erect. Inflorescence ellipsoid to cylindrical-ellipsoid, 2-7 x 1-2.5 cm, densely covered by imbricate, 6-ranked bracts when young. Bracts transversely triangular, acute, 6-12 x 7-16 mm at base, inserted by a broad-canaliculate 3 mm long petiole, which is transversally extended and attached along the entire lower margin of the limb, twice bent at obtuse angles about 130°-150°, early deciduous and thus leaving a twice bent scar in the dense layer of filiform hairs covering the inflorescence. The hexagonal, transversally extended, area delimitated by the scars of four neighboring bracts represents one extremely depressed branch subtended by the lowermost bract. Hairs thinly clavate, 2.4 mm long. Male flowers 20-30 on each branch, at first embedded in layer of hairs, later growing to about 5 mm with a lower, tubular part about 2.5 mm and tepals ovate, concave, 2.5 x 1.2 mm. filaments fused into a column 6-7 mm long, tubular, inserted at base of perianth-tube, below synandrium split into 3 free filaments. Synandrium ovoid-ellipsoid, composed of 3 anthers each with 2 cells, dehiscing above insertion of filaments, 1.1 x 1.0 mm. Rudimentary ovary (?) protruding as a short, conical structure into lower part of perianth-tube. Pollen grains spheroid, 6-pantopororate, 40-44 µm diam., exine 2 µm, nuclei 2. Female flowers with perianth adnate to ovary, 2 short and broad, lip-like segments protruding above ovary. Ovary 1.3-1.4 mm long, compressed, 0.4 mm wide, with flat side generally facing insertion of bracts; styles 2, 1.7 mm long, appearing above layer of hairs; stigmas capitellate, 0.2 mm across. Fruit a small, 1-seeded achene. In forests in dense shade, alt (200-)300-700(-1400) m. Flowering all year round, 45% of known collections February-April. Host plant recorded: Cassia emarginata L. (Leguminosae). In forests in dense shade, alt (200-)300-700(-1400) m. Flowering all year round, 45% of known collections February-April. Host plant recorded: Cassia emarginata L. (Leguminosae). Description based on wet and dry specimens. Dioecious (inflorescence unisexual), red-orange to pink or dark red root parasites. Total length from point of contact with host root (4-)9-l 1 (-23) cm. Tuber subspherical, 1-5 cm diam., giving out short, cylindrical, horizontal rhizome-like structures about 1 cm diam. Stem appearing at intervals from rhizome-like organs or sometimes apparently directly from the tuber, cylindrical, (2-)5-8(-18) cm long and 0.7-1.5 cm wide. Leaves scaly, numerous in 6 vertical ranks, first densely imbricate, almost triangular, acute (6-)7-9(-l 1) mm long and (5-)7-10 mm wide at base, erect. Inflorescence ellipsoid to cylindrical-ellipsoid, 2-7 x 1-2.5 cm, densely covered by imbricate, 6-ranked bracts when young. Bracts transversely triangular, acute, 6-12 x 7-16 mm at base, inserted by a broad-canaliculate 3 mm long petiole, which is transversally extended and attached along the entire lower margin of the limb, twice bent at obtuse angles about 130°-150°, early deciduous and thus leaving a twice bent scar in the dense layer of filiform hairs covering the inflorescence. The hexagonal, transversally extended, area delimitated by the scars of four neighboring bracts represents one extremely depressed branch subtended by the lowermost bract. Hairs thinly clavate, 2.4 mm long. Male flowers 20-30 on each branch, at first embedded in layer of hairs, later growing to about 5 mm with a lower, tubular part about 2.5 mm and tepals ovate, concave, 2.5 x 1.2 mm. filaments fused into a column 6-7 mm long, tubular, inserted at base of perianth-tube, below synandrium split into 3 free filaments. Synandrium ovoid-ellipsoid, composed of 3 anthers each with 2 cells, dehiscing above insertion of filaments, 1.1 x 1.0 mm. Rudimentary ovary (?) protruding as a short, conical structure into lower part of perianth-tube. Pollen grains spheroid, 6-pantopororate, 40-44 µm diam., exine 2 µm, nuclei 2. Female flowers with perianth adnate to ovary, 2 short and broad, lip-like segments protruding above ovary. Ovary 1.3-1.4 mm long, compressed, 0.4 mm wide, with flat side generally facing insertion of bracts; styles 2, 1.7 mm long, appearing above layer of hairs; stigmas capitellate, 0.2 mm across. Fruit a small, 1-seeded achene.General Information
Source: [
Distribution
Source: [
Flora Neotropica
Distribution
