About Langsdorffia hypogaea Mart.
Langsdorffia hypogaea is a parasitic plant that belongs to the family Balanophoraceae. It parasitizes Quercus species, which are oaks, as well as other host plants. Its native range extends from southern Mexico, through Central America, into northern South America. This species forms a pseudotuber, a structure made up of both its own tissue and integrated host tissue, that can reach up to 1 square meter (1.2 square yards) in size. Flower clusters of Langsdorffia hypogaea—called capitula, which are made up of thousands of tiny florets—emerge from the soil from these pseudotubers.
