Natthapruek Sakdapipanich, Sittiporn Singnalintorn, Jiroat Sangrattanaprasert*
Department of Biology and Health Science, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School
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What is Balanophora and Why is it Interesting?
The genus Balanophora J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. is a root-holoparasitic plant group predominantly distributed across tropical Africa, from temperate to tropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. These fascinating plants lack chlorophyll and derive nutrients entirely from their host plants, making them an intriguing subject of study in plant taxonomy and ecology (Hansen, 1972a, 1972b). Beyond their unique biological characteristics, Balanophora species are known for their medicinal properties, with reported effects including HIV inhibition, hypoglycemia control, anti-inflammatory activity, and analgesic properties (Wang et al., 2012). These bioactive compounds have led to diverse applications in traditional and modern medicine.
Balanophora in Thailand was first scientifically documented in the Flora of Thailand (Vol. 2, Part 2) by Hansen (1972b), which recorded five taxa. However, many herbarium specimens remained unidentified or misidentified, signaling the need for a comprehensive taxonomic revision. Recent research efforts at MWIT have revisited these specimens, leading to the discovery of a new species record for Thailand, Balanophora papuana Schltr. (Sakdapipanich et al., 2024, Fig. 1). This finding indicates the importance of continuous exploration and taxonomic investigation in biodiversity-rich regions such as Thailand. By reconstructing a dichotomous key for Thai or all Balanophora species, our study contributes significantly to future botanical research and conservation efforts.
The Beginning of the Research
Our journey into the study of Balanophora began with an interest in plant taxonomy and the unique ecological roles of parasitic plants. One of the key inspirations for this investigation was the previous record of Balanophora subcupularis Tam (Fig. 2) in Thailand (Chaiwerawattana et al., 2022). This species was an exciting discovery, expanding our knowledge of the genus’s distribution and diversity. However, while reviewing taxonomic literature and herbarium collections, we found that many Balanophora specimens remained unidentified or misidentified. This gap in knowledge inspired our research team to conduct a taxonomic revision of Balanophora in Thailand, aiming to clarify species identities and uncover possible new records or new species.
How to Work on Taxonomic Revision on the Genus Balanophora in Thailand
To achieve a comprehensive revision, we followed a structured methodology:
1. Reviewing Literature: Examining previous taxonomic reports and herbarium records.
2. Herbarium Research: Analysing dried specimens from major Thai herbaria (BCU, BK, BKF, CMUB, KKU, and PSU) and noting morphological characteristics (Fig. 3).
3. Field Surveys: Conducting field expeditions to collect fresh specimens from various regions (Fig. 4).
4. Microscopic Examination: Using stereomicroscopes to analyse floral structures and other taxonomic features.
5. Developing a Dichotomous Key: Creating an updated identification key for Balanophora species in Thailand.
The New Species Record, Balanophora papuana, to Thailand
During our research, we encountered a specimen that differed from previously known Thai Balanophora species. Through detailed morphological comparison, we identified it as Balanophora papuana, a species previously recorded in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia, but never before in Thailand. This discovery expands Thailand’s Balanophora diversity to seven taxa and highlights the importance of continued taxonomic studies.
The Future Work
Our research contributes valuable data to the Thai Flora, but many questions remain. Future studies could explore the molecular phylogeny of Balanophora, investigate ecological interactions with host plants, and assess potential conservation concerns. Additionally, further field surveys may uncover even more undiscovered species. Our experience with this project has reinforced our passion for plant taxonomy, and we look forward to continuing this journey in the scientific community.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank curators and staff of many herbaria for their support and for making specimens available for study. We also appreciate our research partners, Mr. Thanased Kittiwatthanothai and Mr Nithit Chaiwerawattana, for their dedication. Lastly, we are grateful to Mahidol Wittayanusorn School for providing the resources and encouragement to pursue this study.
References
Chaiwerawattana, N., Phongpetch, C., & Somana, K. (2022). Balanophora subcupularis (Balanophoraceae), a new record from Thailand. Thai Journal of Botany, 14(1), 15–19.
Hansen, B. (1972a). The genus Balanophora J.R. & G. Forster: A taxonomic monograph. Dansk Botanisk Arkiv, 28(1), 1–197.
Hansen, B. (1972b). Balanophoraceae. In T. Santisuk & K. Larsen (Eds.), Flora of Thailand (Vol. 2, Part 2, pp. 177–181). The ASRCT Press.
Sakdapipanich, N., Singnalintorn, S., Kittiwatthanothai, T., Chaiwerawattana, N., & Sangrattanaprasert, J. (2024). Balanophora papuana (Balanophoraceae), a newly recorded species for Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany), 52, 68–71. https://doi.org/10.20531/tfb.2024.52.2.09
Wang, X., Liu, Z., Qiao, W., Cheng, R., Liu, B., & She, G. (2012). Phytochemicals and biological studies of plants from the genus Balanophora. Chemistry Central Journal, 6(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-6-79
