Scientists discover new parasitic plant in Nagaland
November 19 , 2017 2602 days 1508 0
Scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic flowering plant that has no chlorophyll, and survives by extracting nutrition from the host plant with the help of a haustorium.
A haustorium is a specialised structure with which plant parasites attach themselves to the tissue of host plants and derive nutrition.
The species, named Gleadovia konyakianorum, in honour of the Konyak tribe of Nagas.
It is a holoparasite [complete parasite] that derives its entire nutritional requirement from the host plant.
The plant was found in the semi-evergreen forest at an altitude of 1,500-1,600 metres.
Gleadovia konyakianorum is only the fourth species from the genus Gleadovia to be found in the world and is a root parasite that grows up to 10 cm in height, and bears white, tubular flowers.