Mitrastema is a genus of two widely disjunct species of parasitic plants. It is the only genus within the family Mitrastemonaceae. Mitrastema are root endoparasites, which grow on Fagaceae

Fagaceae

The family Fagaceae, or beech family, comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like nuts. Fagaceous leaves are often...

.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic placement of the Mitrastema was unsure for a long time. Originally it was placed within the order Rafflesiales

Rafflesiales

Rafflesiales is a botanical name of an order of flowering plants. The name was first published by Oliver in 1895. The Cronquist system used this name for an order placed in subclass Rosidae with the following circumscription :...

, together with other parasitic plants, however it was long suspected that this order was actually polyphyletic. In 2004 the genus was found the be related with Ericales

Ericales

The Ericales are a large and diverse order of dicotyledons, including for example tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, and azalea. The order includes trees and bushes, lianas and herbaceous plants. Together with ordinary autophytic plants, the Ericales include chlorophyll-deficient...

 by comparing the mitochondrial DNA.

Species

Two species are known. M. matudae is found in Central America, while M. yamamotoi is found in Southeast Asia and Japan.