Balanophora spicata Hayata (文王一支笔)

[jackied]

Latin Name: Balanophora involucrata, Balanophora japonica, Balanophora spicata Hayata
Description: Balanophora involucrata is a bizarre plant. Looking more like a fungus than a flowering plant, Balanophora is an obligate parasite on other plants. It attaches its rhizomes to the roots of its host, deriving all its nutrition by this mechanism. Unlike typical plants, the small proportion of holoparasitic flowering plants such as Balanophora do not possess chlorophyll, the molecule that is critical for converting the energy of the sun into food. Its leaves are highly reduced, existing only as scale-like objects hugging the thick stem. Its flowers are also highly reduced and the male and female parts occur on separate flowers.
Only 16 species in the genus Balanophora are known, occurring in Africa and Australia as well as eastern Asia. Its relative rarity and inconspicuous nature (they need no sunlight and thus can occur in the deep shade of their hosts) make it very special.
Drug actions in TCM: stanch bleeding， engender flesh, ease pain. Among the local people it is often used to treat stomach illness, nasal bleeding, haemophilia during monthly period, dysentery and traumatic bleeding