Thismia
Thismia is a genus of myco-heterotrophic plants in family Burmanniaceae, known as "fairy lanterns". They are native to East and Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas.
Description
Thismia are perennial, achlorophyllous, mycoheterotrophic, tuberous plants with branched or simple stems. The 1–4 terminal, solitary flowers are erect. The androecium consists of 6 stamens. The gynoecium consists of one carpel.Name
The generic name Thismia refers to Thomas Smith. It is an anagram of his name.Conservation
Most Thismia species are threatened with extinction and many species are only known from very few collections. For instance, the IUCN conservation status of Thismia melanomitra is Vulnerable, Thismia malayana is categorized as Vulnerable, Thismia kobensis, which was previously believed to be extinct, is now categorized as Critically Endangered, and Thismia americana is believed to be possibly extinct.Ecology
The flowers of Thismia tentaculata are pollinated by fungus gnats. The flowers of Thismia hongkongensis are visited by fungus gnats and scuttle flies.Cytology
The chromosome count of Thismia huangii is 2n = 18. The chromosome count of Thismia abei is 2n = 12.Taxonomy
It was published by William Griffith in 1845 with Thismia brunonis Griff. as the type species.File:Thismia sp. Sarawak, Bornéo 2016.jpg|thumb|235x235px|Thismia sp. in Sarawak, Borneo
Species
, Plants of the World Online recognised 108 species in this genus, as follows:Recently described species include:
2024
- Thismia malayana
- Thismia malipoensis
- Thismia papillata
- Thismia perlisensis
- Thismia aliasii
- Thismia dasyantha
- Thismia velaris
- Thismia selangorensis ''''