Sapria

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Sapria
Sapria himalayana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Rafflesiaceae Genus: Sapria Griff.
Species
S. himalayana Griff. S. poilanei Gagnep. S. ram Bänziger & B. Hansen

Sapria is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It grows within roots of Vitis and Tetrastigma. The genus is limited to the tropical forests of east asia.

The flowers of Sapria are about 20 cm in diameter, bright red with yellow or white dots, unisexual and dioecious. In contrast with the related genus Rafflesia the flowers have 10 lobes.

Three species are described, S. himalayana is found in Cambodia, China (Xizang and Yunnan), north-east India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, while S. poilanei is only found in China. The newly described third species S. ram is found in Thailand.

[edit] References

• Griffith, Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 1: 216. 1844.
• Sapria in Flora of China 5: 271. 2003.
• A rare root parasitic plant (Sapria himalayana Griffith.) in Namdapha National Park, northeastern India in Current Science, Vol. 85, No. 12, 25 December 2003