Several root-parasites are found among the tropical family Opiliaceae, attacking neighboring plants by means of secondary haustoria. Selfparasitism also ocurs. While mostly occurring in the Old World, the 10 species of Agonandra treated in this volume are distributed from Mexico through Central America and the lower elevation areas of South America to northern Argentina. Several uses are reported for A. brasiliensis including as wood for furniture and carving; fruits for eating and marmalade; bark for skin infections, colds, diarrhea, and malarai; and roots to give beer a yellow color. The treatment of Agonandra includes keys, descriptions, distribution maps, black and white illustrations, and photographic images.
