Balanophora shed one third of its genes as it evolved into a streamlined parasitic plant — an extreme degree of genome shrinkage even among parasites. Along the way this subtropical plant developed the ability to induce the host plant to grow into the parasite’s own flesh — forming chimeric organs that mix host and parasite tissues.
Click here for original story, This parasitic plant convinces hosts to grow into its own flesh–it’s also an extreme example of genome shrinkage
Source: ScienceDaily