Sapria

Sapria himalayana, bud (left) and flower

The Sapria are a plant genus of the family of Rafflesiengewächse ( Rafflesiaceae ) with three species.

Description

Sapria parasitize roots of grapevines ( Vitis ), Tetrastigma and Illigera trifoliata. Its vegetative part consists of a tissue within the myzelähnlichen host plants. The underground part of the unbranched flower stem is fleshy, reddish - white, and a little over 1 inch thick. At its upper end, below the flower, sitting about ten triangular to semicircular, rounded at the base and overlapping each other bracts in a spiral arrangement.

The terminal, radial symmetry and unpleasant smelling single flowers are dioecious. The ten approach fused to a 4 to 8 -inch-long tube bloom stand in two circles, are approximately triangular, bluntly rounded at the end, 6-8 inches long and 4-6 inches wide, red to reddish and yellow ( rarely white ) mottled. The overall diameter of a flower can be up to 20 centimeters. The opening of the tube is narrowed completely fused with a membrane, which is studded with numerous hair-like papillae and only in the center of a 1 to 2 inch wide opening into the interior can be free. Its walls are divided by 20 ribs along.

In male flowers of the approach of the flower tube is fixed, the 20 stamens are completely fused into a stalked cup. The anthers are on the outside at the transition between the " stem " and "shell".

Even when female flowers are found, the shell- shaped fused stamens and anthers, but these are sterile ( Staminodium ). The surface of the cup is weak sechsrippig. The flower tube is fused with the inferior ovary, the ten to twelve placentas are arranged irregularly.

The fruit is spherical; the flower is also maintained during this time.

Dissemination

The representatives of the genus are found in northern India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam at elevations between 800 and 1200 m.

System

In the genus Sapria three types are distinguished based on staining and mottling of bloom:

• Sapria himalayana
• Sapria poilanei