Dactylanthus taylorii

(Dactylanthus taylorii)

Description

Dactylanthus taylorii, commonly known as wood rose, is a fully parasitic flowering plant, the only one endemic to New Zealand. The host tree responds to the presence of Dactylanthus by forming a burl-like structure that resembles a fluted wooden rose (hence the common name). When the flowers emerge on the forest floor, they are pollinated by a ground-foraging species of native bat.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order:Santalales
Family:Balanophoraceae
Genus:Dactylanthus
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