Plant Diversity ›› 2012, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 466-470.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1143.2012.12039

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A Preliminary Report of Small Mammal Frugivory on Balanophora harlandii (Balanophoraceae)

 CONRAN  John G1, LI  Jie-2   

  1. 1 ACEBB, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Benham Bldg DX 650 312, North Terrace,
    SA 5005 Australia; 2 Lab of Plant Phylogenetics & Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,
    Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
  • Received:2012-03-22 Online:2012-10-25 Published:2012-05-20

Abstract:

Mammal frugivory and apparent seed dispersal of Balanophora harlandii (Balanophoraceae) in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China is reported for the first time. The possibility of the conspicuous, fleshy, spadiciform infructescences mimicking mushrooms for dispersal by mycophagous rodents is discussed.

Key words: Parasitic plants, Balanophoraceae, Possible Mycophagy, Rodents, Seed dispersal

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