| Hydnora africana | |
|---|---|
| Hydnora africana flowers, Karasburg Constituency, Namibia, 2002 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Hydnoraceae |
| Genus: | Hydnora |
| Species: | H. africana |
| Binomial name | |
| Hydnora africana Thunb. |
|
Hydnora africana is an achlorophyllous plant native to southern Africa that is parasitic on the roots of members of the Euphorbiaceae family. The plant grows underground, except for a fleshy flower that emerges above ground and emits an odor of feces to attract its natural pollinators, dung beetles, and carrion beetles.[1] The flowers act as traps for a brief period retaining the beetles that enter, then releasing them when the flower is fully opened.