Abstract
A new species of Balanophoraceae, Ombrophytum villamariensis Guzmán-Guzmán, is described for Colombia, where the genus has not previously been recorded. At least the first part of the development of the inflorescence is underground. Inflorescences have simple lateral branches, bearing male flowers in the upper part of the inflorescence and female flowers in the lower part. The apical parts (peltas) of the inflorescence branches are morphologically different in the two areas. The first stages of the plants are ball-shaped, within which inflorescences are formed endogenously. When the latter finally emerge, they lift the ball’s surface layer which usually splits, leaving an irregular volva at the base of the inflorescence.