Nanodeaceae Nickrent & Der

Genera Included:  Mida Cunn. ex Endl., Nanodea Banks ex Gaertner f.

Habit: Mida is a root parasitic tree (to 6 m) and Nanodea is a turf- or mat-forming dwarf shrub 

Parasitism: Documented in Mida (Philipson 1959) and Nanodea (Skottsberg 1913).

Roots: haustorial.

Stem: branches glabrous in both genera. In Mida the bark is smooth, grey to grey-black and the branchlets slender and brittle. In Nanodea the branches are filiform.

Wood Anatomy: Mida reported by Patel (1974).

Leaves: For Mida: alternate, sometimes with a few subopposite to opposite; petioles slender, short, somewhat fleshy; leaf shape varying tremendously (even on same individual), including linear, narrow-lanceolate, ovate to oblong-ovate, broad-elliptic to rhomboid; adaxial surface dark green to yellow green, very glossy, abaxial surface paler and mat; apex acute, subacuminate to acuminate; texture of blade papery, membranous or semi-coriaceous; margins entire, sinuate or distinctly scalloped. For Nanodea: alternate, scattered, glabrous, somewhat thick, linear with acute apex, 1 x 0.1 cm.

Inflorescence: Mida inflorescences are axillary, few-flowered racemes whereas in Nanodea the flowers occur one per leaf axil, often in clusters of 2-3 flowers at the stem apex. Floral bracts and/or bracteoles persistent, separate.

Plant Sex: Mida is gynodioecious whereas Nanodea flowers are bisexual.

Flowers: Mida is pedicellate whereas Nanodea the flowers are nearly sessile. 

• Calyx: highly reduced, present as a small calyculus in Mida (see Bhatnagar 1960) that enlarges somewhat on the fruit.
• Corolla: petals (4-)5(-6), broadly triangular, caducous (Mida). In Mida, the corolla lobes are interlocked by hairs when the flower is in bud. Inner side of corolla behind anthers forming tuft of unicellular hairs, these shriveling in older flowers (Mida). The hair tuft nearly covering the anther and adhering to it in Nanodea.
• Nectary: disk with as many lobes as petals, alternating with them. Concave in Nanodea.
• Androecium: as many as petals, opposite them. Filament equal to or shorter than anther in length. Anther dorsifixed, 4-locular (tetrasporangiate), positioned in one plane, locule isomerous), parallel (longitudinal) to filament, dehiscence by longitudinal by slits, both thecal locules using a common opening. 
• Staminodia: present in functionally female (carpellate) flowers of Mida.
• Pollen: Light microscopic derived illustrations in (Bhatnagar 1960) for Mida.
• Gynoecium: The one-locular ovary is inferior in Nanodea and half inferior in Mida. The placental column is straight and, at least in Mida, extends beyond the ovules apically as a conical projection to the base of the style. Mida stigma 2-4-lobed. 
• Ovule: 2-3, hemi-anatropous, ategmic.    
• Embryo, etc.: For Mida: embryo sac of the Polygonum type, extending beyond ovule at the 4-nucleate stage growing into the stylar canal.  Suspensor present. Chalazal caevum forms and a branched endosperm haustoria is present (see Bhatnagar 1960).

Fruit:  pseudodrupe, with parenchymatous epicarp and endocarp and a stony or woody mesocarp. Mature fruit crowned by persistent perianth parts. Bracts persistent at base of fruit in Nanodea.

Seed: One per fruit, enclosed in woody endocarp.  

Chromosomes: Mida 2n = 66 (as reported on NZ Plant Conservation Network website).  

Alternate Family Names: none