Cytinus
Encyclopedia
Cytinus is a genus
of parasitic flowering plant
s. Species in this genus do not produce chlorophyll
, but rely fully on its host plant. Cytinus only parasitizes Cistus
and Halimium
, two genera of plants in the Cistaceae
family.
Several species are found in the Mediterranean Region, South Africa
, with a possibly undescribed species from Madagascar
.
, while C. hypocistis is monoecious.
C. hypocistis has been shown to infect mainly Halimium halimifolium and Cistus monspeliensis
in Portugal
.
, but is now put into the family Cytinaceae
(order Malvales
), together with the genus Bdallophytum
with four species.
Cytinus ruber is no longer considered a separate species, but is now a subspecies of C. hypocistis.
The young C. hypocistis is cooked as an Asparagus
substitute, and an extract has been used in treating dysentery
, throat tumors and as an astringent
. C. ruber is also edible, and was used in folk medicine
as an emmenagogue
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of parasitic flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s. Species in this genus do not produce chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
, but rely fully on its host plant. Cytinus only parasitizes Cistus
Cistus
Cistus is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, containing about 20 species . They are perennial shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands...
and Halimium
Halimium
Halimium is a genus of 12 species of evergreen or semi-evergreen subshrubs in the family Cistaceae, closely related to Helianthemum...
, two genera of plants in the Cistaceae
Cistaceae
The Cistaceae is a small family of plants known for its beautiful shrubs, which are profusely covered by flowers at the time of blossom...
family.
Several species are found in the Mediterranean Region, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, with a possibly undescribed species from Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
Biology
C. capensis and C. sanguineus are dioeciousDioecious
Dioecy is the property of a group of biological organisms that have males and females, but not members that have organs of both sexes at the same time. I.e., those whose individual members can usually produce only one type of gamete; each individual organism is thus distinctly female or male...
, while C. hypocistis is monoecious.
C. hypocistis has been shown to infect mainly Halimium halimifolium and Cistus monspeliensis
Cistus monspeliensis
Cistus monspeliensis is a species of rockrose known by the common name Montpelier cistus. It is native to southern Europe and northern Africa, in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecosystems of matorral—maquis shrublands.-Description:...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Systematics
The genus Cytinus was previously included in the parasitic family RafflesiaceaeRafflesiaceae
Rafflesiaceae is a family of parasitic plants found in east and southeast Asia, including Rafflesia arnoldii, the plant with the largest flower of all plants. The plants are endoparasites of vines in the genus Tetrastigma and lack stems, leaves, roots, and any photosynthetic tissue...
, but is now put into the family Cytinaceae
Cytinaceae
Cytinaceae is a family of parasitic flowering plant. It comprised two genera, Cytinus and Bdallophytum, totalling ten species.These two genera were formerly placed in family Rafflesiaceae, order Malpighiales. When they were first split out into a separate family, it was placed in Malpighiales, but...
(order Malvales
Malvales
Malvales are an order of flowering plants. As circumscribed by APG II-system, it includes about 6000 species within nine families. The order is placed in the eurosids II, which are part of the eudicots....
), together with the genus Bdallophytum
Bdallophytum
Bdallophytum is a genus of parasitic flowering plants with five described species. It parasitizes on the roots of plants of the genus Bursera, such as Bursera simaruba. The genus is endemic to the Neotropics....
with four species.
Cytinus ruber is no longer considered a separate species, but is now a subspecies of C. hypocistis.
Uses
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennialplant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and...
substitute, and an extract has been used in treating dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
, throat tumors and as an astringent
Astringent
An astringent substance is a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast"...
. C. ruber is also edible, and was used in folk medicine
Folk medicine
-Description:Refers to healing practices and ideas of body physiology and health preservation known to a limited segment of the population in a culture, transmitted informally as general knowledge, and practiced or applied by anyone in the culture having prior experience.All cultures and societies...
as an emmenagogue
Emmenagogue
Emmenagogues are herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus; some stimulate menstruation. Women have used plants such as mugwort, parsley and ginger to prevent or terminate early pregnancy...
.
Species
- Cytinus capensis — South Africa
- Cytinus hypocistis — Mediterranean from MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
to southern FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... - Cytinus ruber - Mediterranean (sometimes listed as C. hypocistis ssp. clusii)
- Cytinus sanguineus — South Africa
- Cytinus visseri — South Africa