BALANOPHORACEAE 1 7 1 



Plate 4.1. 



Sarcophyte sanguinea Sparrman 



1. Female plant parasitic on root of Acacia caffra. 2. Twig of male plant. 

 3. Male flower. 3/1. 4. Transverse section through anther, showing the numerous 

 pollen chambers (after Engler and Prantl). 15/1. 5. Pollen grains, coheringin lumps. 275/1. 

 6. Section through female capitulum. 5/1. 7. Median section through portion of female 

 capitulum, corresponding to one flower. 14/1. 8. Transverse section through portion of 

 capitulum representing one ovary with its three embryo-sacs. 



Mystropetalon. 



This genus consists of two species which occur in the Caledon district, 

 extending westwards nearly to Sir Lowry's Pass. Both are parasitic on the 

 roots of Proteaceae, principally on Protea mellifera, but we have seen 

 M. Thomii also on Protea longifolia and Leucadendron salignum. It is quite 

 possible that more species may be attacked by the Mystropetalon, but as 

 P. mellifera is very common in the district and as its roots spread for several 

 yards beyond the outskirts of 'the bush, it is not easy to find a patch of the 

 parasite at a sufficient distance from this species to be sure of the real host. 



The thallus does not put out any rootlets, like the Harveya, but as soon 

 as the seedling has germinated in contact with a root of Protea, it gradually 

 increases in size until sufficiently large for the production of the flowering 

 shoots (spadix), a process which may require several years. During the 

 development of the flowers of the lower portion ($) of the spike, in a 

 centripetal direction, the buds of the upper portion (£) remain small ; hence 

 when the time for the development of the male flowers comes all female 

 flowers are withered, some carrying ripe fruits at that period. 



The flowers secrete an ample supply of nectar, which attracts birds, flies 

 and bees, but there does not seem to be any scent about them. The receptacle 

 increases in size during the development of the fruit, finally becoming filled 

 with fat. Ants gather the fruitlets on account of this fatty appendage 

 {elaiosowie) and carry them into their subterranean nests *; the fruits are 

 thus dispersed in various directions and buried at a sufficient depth in the soil 

 to enable the haustorium formed by the germinating seed to reach the root of 

 a Protea. The flowers mostly appear when the autumnal rains have soaked 

 the ground (April, May), but if these come too late, the plant appears to 

 remain dormant until the warmer spring weather sets in. 



Sarcophyte. 



Sarcophyte sanguinea. This plant occurs in the eastern and north 

 eastern districts on the roots of Acacia caffra and, as stated by Harvey, also on 



* The author has found the seeds in the nests deprived of the gynophore. 

 (Plate 42 is facing page 170.) 



