Hydnora Haustoria and Roots

Welcome to Kannikwavlakte!!
Hydnora Flats (in Afrikaans). Kleinsee Road near junction with Steinkopf Road. Near Port Nolloth, South Africa. 14 September 2003

Kannikwavlakte is the Afrikaans equivalent of "Hydnora flats". We located extensive populations of H. africana growing in the same Euphorbia dominated succulent deserts with H. triceps although the hosts of the two parasites are different. Hyndora triceps is only found on Euphorbia dregeana while H. africana has been reported on several Euphorbia species.

The following data is based on the work of Erika Maass, Libby Musselman, and Lytton Musselman in Northern Cape Province, South Africa in September 2003. Haustoria of Hydnora, like other anatomical features of the plant, have received scant attention. This is unfortunate as the development of parasitic attachments in these plants appears to be different from most other parasitic angiosperms. Haustoria apparently develop from the numerous finger like projections on the root. These either invade the host (in the present study all members of the genus Euphorbia) or cause the host to invade the parasite.

Here are a few images which give the overall relationship between host and parasite. Because Euphorbia has milky juice, it is easily determined as the host plant.

Hydnora triceps

Hydnora triceps. Parasitic attachment. The lighter root is the host, Euphorbia dregeana.Gemsbokvlei Farm, Wolfberg Road, ca. 40 km southeast of Port Nolloth, South Africa,13-Sep-03

Other Images

Hydnora triceps. Roots. Gemsbokvlei Farm, Wolfberg Road, ca. 40 km southeast of Port Nolloth, South Africa.,13-Sep-03


Hydnora triceps. Very young plant on Euphorbia dregeana root. Gemsbokvlei Farm, Wolfberg Road, ca. 40 km southeast of Port Nolloth, South Africa,13-Sep-03

Hydnora triceps. Parasitic attachment. The lighter root is the host, Euphorbia dregeana .Gemsbokvlei Farm, Wolfberg Road, ca. 40 km southeast of Port Nolloth, South Africa,13-Sep-03

Hydnora triceps. Parasitic attachment. Gemsbokvlei Farm, Wolfberg Road, ca. 40 km southeast of Port Nolloth, South Africa,13-Sep-03

Hydnora africana

Near Kanikwa south, 2.2 k on Kleinsee road, 14 km east of McDougalls Bay turnoff. 14 September 2003.

We were looking for other kinds of gems!

Hydnora africana (red) parasitizing Euphorbia mauritanica . Kanikwa south, 2.2 k on Kleinsee road, 14 km east of McDougalls Bay turnoff. 14 September 2003.

Other Images

Hydnora africana roots in section. Kanikwa south, 2.2 k on Kleinsee road, 14 km east of McDougalls Bay turnoff. 14 September 2003.

Hydnora africana (dark) parasitizing Euphorbia mauritanica (lighter roots). Kanikwa south, 2.2 k on Kleinsee road, 14 km east of McDougalls Bay turnoff. 14 September 2003.