Sapria himalayana
| Sapria himalayana | |
|---|---|
| Sapria himalayana flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Rafflesiaceae |
| Genus: | Sapria |
| Species: | S. himalayana |
| Binomial name | |
| Sapria himalayana | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Richthofenia siamensis Hosseus | |
Sapria himalayana, commonly known as the hermit's spittoon, is a rare holoparasitic flowering plant related to Rafflesia found in the Eastern Himalayas. Sapria himalayana represents the extreme manifestation of the parasitic mode, being completely dependent on its host plant for water, nutrients and products of photosynthesis which it sucks through a specialised root system called haustoria. These haustoria are attached to both the xylem and the phloem of the host plant.