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. 

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


SIUC / College of Science / Parasitic Plant Connection / Nanodeaceae / Description
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Nanodeaceae/description.html
Last updated: 19-Oct-10 / dln