New Parasitic Plant

The new plant was discovered on the outskirts of a tropical forest in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, the Nicobar group of islands, which is separated from the Andaman group of islands by a 160-kilometer gap with strong tidal surges.

Septemeranthus is distinguished by its vegetative morphology, inflorescence architecture, and floral characteristics. The plant’s heart-shaped leaves have a very long tip, and the ovary, fruit, and seeds are all urceolate (earthen pot-shaped). Five persistent bracts with prominent edges adorn the flowers. Septemeranthusis is derived from the Latin word septum,’ which means seven,’ and refers to the floral arrangement.

Parasitic Plant

An angiosperm (flowering plant) that attaches directly to another plant via a haustorium is referred to as a parasitic plant. A haustorium is a specialized structure that connects the parasite with the host morphologically and physiologically.

Parasitic plants are classified according to where they attach to the host, how nutritionally dependent they are on the host, and whether or not they require a host to complete their life cycle. There are two sorts of parasites based on where they live on the host: stem parasites and root parasites.

Diversity of Flora in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

There are 2649 plant taxa in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including 2508 species, 32 subspecies, 103 variations, and 6 forms distributed over 1109 genera in 238 families, representing four plant groups: bryophytes (mosses), pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Angiosperms are the most numerous, with 2314 species, 31 subspecies, 89 variations, and 6 forms classified into 1011 genera and 181 families, accounting for 92 percent of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ total flora. Only seven species and two variants of Gymnosperms are found in four genera and three families. Pteridophytes have 129 species, 1 subspecies, and 9 variants under 62 genera and 38 families, while mosses (bryophytes) have 58 species and 3 varieties under 32 genera and 16 families.

Horsfieldia glabra (Blume) Warb

Horsfieldia is an evergreen tree genus. There are roughly 100 species in the genus, which can be found all over South Asia, from India to the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Timber is made from some species. Alkaloids, such as horsfiline, which has analgesic properties, are found in some species of the genus.

Discovery of Septameranthus

The Nicobar group of islands has recently found a new genus of parasitic flowering plants. Septemeranthus gets its name from the Latin word septum,’ which means’seven,’ and refers to the floral arrangement. The genus Loranthaceae is a hemi-parasite belonging to the sandalwood order Santalales, and it is quite important. Hemi-parasite plants are partially reliant on their host plants for nourishment. For example, the recently discovered plant that gets its nourishment from its hosts possesses photosynthesis-capable green leaves.

Interesting Facts 

• The parasitic flowering plants have a modified root structure that spreads across the tree’s stem and is anchored inside the bark.

• They require a host tree or shrub to survive and have a global distribution in both tropical and temperate environments.

• Forest ecology, pathology, and medicine all benefit from them.

• They’re crucial because they provide food for frugivorous birds.

• Birds eat this novel genus’ viscous seeds, which have the potential for pseudo viviparous germination and deposit on the leaves and branches of the same plant that is already attached to the host plant.

Hemi-Parasites

Mistletoes are the popular name for hemiparasites. They require a host tree or shrub to flourish and have a global distribution in both tropical and temperate ecosystems. There have been a total of five evolutions in order and are essential in forest ecology, pathology, and medicine.

They serve an important function in the ecosystem because they supply food for frugivorous birds.

Total parasitic vs Partial Parasitic 

Total parasites and partial parasites are both possible. Total parasites rely on their host for all of their needs, whereas partial parasites rely on their host for only some of their needs, such as nourishment. This is the most important distinction between parasites and partial parasites. Furthermore, a significant distinction between parasites and partial parasites is that partial parasites have chlorophylls for photosynthesis, but entire parasites do not. Furthermore, “holoparasites” refers to entire parasites, and “hemiparasites” refers to partial parasites.

Conclusion

In addition to Septemeranthus, four other non-parasitic plant genera, Nicobariodendron (Hippocrateaceae), Pseudodiplospora (Rubiaceae), Pubistylis (Rubiaceae), and Sphyranthera (Euphorbiaceae), have been discovered previously from the Nicobar group of islands, highlighting the region’s ecological importance. Dendrophthoe laljii, a new species of the hemiparasitic Loranthaceae family, was recently identified in the Nicobar group of islands.