Members of the Balanophoraceae may look like fungi, but they are actually flowering plants that completely lack chlorophyll. All 50 members of the family are holoparasites, gaining all their nutrients from their hosts.
Balanophora fungosa is a parasite of tree roots in moist rainforests of Australia and New Guinea which emits a strong mouse-like odour to attract rodents to its tiny white flowers. Honeyeaters can also sometimes be seen visiting the flowers to feed on the nectar.
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