Prosopanche: A remarkable genus of parasitic plants

Prosopanche is a poorly known genus of parasitic plants from South and Central America. Growing almost entirely underground with a complete lack of leaves, plants of Prosopanche bear more resemblance to fungi than plants and have many remarkable aspects to their life history and ecology that require further investigation. Here, we provide an up‐to‐date revision of the current state of understanding of Prosopanche, including taxonomy, biogeography, plant‐pollinator ecology and host‐parasite interactions. We discuss the untapped research potential of this group of plants and recommend the Prosopanche as an ideal candidate for exploring the evolutionary origins of parasitism among flowering plants. Prosopanche es un género de plantas parásitas de Centroamérica y Sudamérica, el cual es poco conocido. Desarrollandose casi enteramente enterrado y con ausencia de hojas, las plantas de Prosopanche se asemejan más a los hongos que a la mayoría de las plantas. Prosopanche tiene, además, remarcables aspectos relacionados a su ecología e historia natural que requieren mayores investigaciones. Aquí, nosotros presentamos una revisión actualizada sobre el estado del conocimiento de Prosopanche, incluyendo taxonomía, biogeografía, ecología planta‐polinizador e interacciones hospedero‐parásito. Además, discutimos sobre el potencial de investigación de este grupo de plantas y sugerimos que Prosopanche es un candidato ideal para la exploración sobre el origen evolutivo del parasitismo en las plantas con flores. Prosopanche is a remarkable yet poorly known genus of parasitic plants. We provide an up‐to‐date revision of the current state of understanding of Prosopanche, including taxonomy, biogeography, plant–pollinator ecology and host–parasite interactions. This Flora Obscura article will deliver this extraordinary plant genus to the attention of the wider scientific community, stimulating new research that harnesses the potential of Prosopanche to investigate important evolutionary and ecological questions, such as the origins of parasitism in flowering plants. This information will also aid conservation planners in providing appropriate protection for these valuable plants.