Named Langsdorffia, the “vampire tree” lives in the forests and savannas of Central and South America, Madagascar and Papa New Guinea. They produce bright red flowers.

Image of a parasitic plant also known as a “vampire plant”.

The four distinct species of Langsdorffia are currently known to be non-photosynthetic holoparasitic plants . Instead, they use underground tentacle-like proboscis to extract nutrients from the roots of many different plant species, relying on the host for survival.

The lack of chlorophyll results in a blood-red flower that looks like something from the bottom of the ocean rather than the forest. However, fortunately they are not harmful to humans.

Despite their recognizable flower colors and distinctive shape, little is known about these parasitic plants. It seems likely that the bloom of Langsdorffia will be accompanied by the death of other plant species in the area.

The effects of these trees on the surrounding ecosystem are still unexplored. This is partly because Langsdorffia is so rare that it has not been thoroughly researched. Besides, they are only found in remote locations and only bloom in dry conditions.

Dr Chris Thorogood from the Department of Plant Sciences at Oxford University Botanic Gardens believes that this parasitic plant should be included in local plant collections to expand our understanding of their ecology.

For pollination, Langsdorffia secretes sweet nectar to attract different species of birds and insects to feed on their nectar in the arid conditions of the dry season. What’s interesting is that different types of Langsdorffia secrete nectar in different ways.

Although very rare, conservation of Langsdorffia is underway in the hope of further research. In addition, protecting the forests in which they reside is extremely important.