Thismia

Griffith

Proc. Linn. Soc. London 1: 221. 1845.

Etymology: Anagram, for Thomas Smith, English microscopist, died ca. 1825
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 489. Mentioned on page 487.

Plants perennial, mycotrophic, not green. Rhizomes absent. Roots horizontal, stoutly terete. Stems unbranched, very short. Leaves cauline, bractlike, white. Inflorescences solitary flowers; floral bracts imbricate. Flowers erect, neither ribbed nor winged; perianth caducous in fruit; annulus present in perianth throat immediately proximal to lobes; stamens 6, pendent, forming ring proximal to annulus; ovary 1-locular; placentation parietal; pedicel absent. Capsules cup-shaped; dehiscence irregular by breaking down of wall.

Distribution

Non-North American species mostly pantropical.

Discussion

Species ca. 32 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa