SECRETS OF THE KANIKWA

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SECRETS OF THE KANIKWA

• Erika Maass
• University of Namibia

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KANI Hydnora KWA flats
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HYDNORACEAE
Two genera
Hydnora
Prosopanche
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THE GENUS HYDNORA
H. esculenta H. abyssinica H. africana H. triceps
H. sinandevu
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THE GENUS HYDNORA
H. esculenta
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THE GENUS HYDNORA
H. abyssinica
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THE GENUS HYDNORA
H. africana
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THE GENUS HYDNORA
H. triceps
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Kanikwa reveals her secretsFlowers and fruits
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Floral morphology
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perianth
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osmophore
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stamen
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pistil
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perianth chamber
sub-antheral chamber
ovarian chamber
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young
old
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pistillate
staminate
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stamens with pollen
pollen platform
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pollen platform
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Kanikwa still guards some secrets

• Why are the osmophores carried so high?
• What is the significance of the orange
  colouration?
• What makes the flower stop growing close to the
  soil surface?
• What is the length of the pistilate and staminate
  phases?
• What triggers the change from pistilate to
  staminate?

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Kanikwa reveals her secretsRipe fruits and seeds
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Fruit pulp and seeds removed
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Fruits stay attached to the pilot roots below the
soil surface
seeds removed
Empty shell
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small mammal activity
mount
old flowers
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hollowed fruit
flower head
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fruit flesh with seeds
pericarp
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seeds removed
pulp
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Seed germination!!
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Kanikwa still guards some secrets

• Who are the diaspores?
• How do they find the fruit?
• Why do they seem to prefer the seeds?
• How do the seeds end up close enough to host
  roots for germination and attachment?
• Aspects of seed germination

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Kanikwa reveals her secrets
Flowering is dependent on the rain!
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root tip
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Kanikwa reveals her secretsHaustoria and
seedlings
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stage 4
stage 1
stage 3
stage 2
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pilot root
seedling
host
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Hydnora seedling attached to host root
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haustoria
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host
parasite
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host
parasite
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Kanikwa still guards some secrets

• What triggers haustorial attachment?
• What causes the host to enter the tissue of the
  parasite?
• What is the real relationship between host and
  parasite?
• How does Hydnora manage to withdraw water and
  nutrients from the host root?
• What is a plant and how does this effect the
  pollination strategies of Hydnora?

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How to find Hydnora triceps

• A guide for Hydnora hunters

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Find the host
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Find the evidence
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Smellem out!
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Digem out!
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Thanks to