Aphyllon


Aphyllon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae. All Aphyllon species are obligate root parasites, taking nutrients from others rather than performing photosynthesis. They can be found in North and South America, with many species living in California, USA.

Taxonomy

The species in Aphyllon were once considered a part of the genus Orobanche, but phylogenetic analyses have confirmed that Orobanche sensu lato is not a monophyletic group. The genus Aphyllon has since been resurrected, as originally described by John Mitchell in 1748 in "Dissertatio brevis de principiis botanicorum et zoologorum deque novo stabiliendo naturae rerum congruo cum appendice" or "A short dissertation on the principles of botanism and zoology, and on a new establishment of the nature of things, with an appropriate appendix".

Sections

The genus Aphyllon is composed of two sections; sect. Aphyllon and sect. Nothaphyllon. Species in sect. Aphyllon have pedicels much longer than the flower length, and the bracteoles subtending the calyx are absent. Species in sect. Nothaphyllon have pedicels that are shorter than or equal to the length of the flower and have 2 bracteoles subtending the calyx.

''Aphyllon'' section ''Aphyllon (''syn. ''Orobanche'' sect. ''Gymnocaulis)''

Aphyllon epigalium subsp. epigaliumAphyllon epigalium subsp. notocalifornicumAphyllon fasciculatumAphyllon franciscanumAphyllon purpureum
  • ''Aphyllon uniflorum''

''Aphyllon'' section ''Nothaphyllon (syns. Orobanche sect. Myzorrhiza, Orobanche sect. Nothaphyllon)''

Aphyllon arizonicumAphyllon californicum subsp. californicumAphyllon californicum subsp. condensumAphyllon californicum subsp. feudgeiAphyllon californicum subsp. grandeAphyllon californicum subsp. grayanumAphyllon californicum subsp. jepsoniiAphyllon castilloiAphyllon chiapenseAphyllon chilenseAphyllon cooperi subsp. cooperi
  • Aphyllon cooperi subsp. latilobum
  • Aphyllon cooperi subsp. palmeriAphyllon corymbosumAphyllon corymbosum subsp. mutabileAphyllon dugesiiAphyllon gypsophilumAphyllon ludovicianumAphyllon multiflorumAphyllon parishii subsp. parishiiAphyllon parishii subsp. brachylobumAphyllon pinorumAphyllon ripariumAphyllon robbinsiiAphyllon spectabileAphyllon tacnaenseAphyllon tarapacanumAphyllon tuberosumAphyllon validum subsp. validumAphyllon validum subsp. howelliiAphyllon vallicolum
  • ''Aphyllon weberbaueri''