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| Thismia occasa T.C.Hsu, S.W.Chung & C.W.Lin, T. chicoreoides T.C.Hsu, S.W.Chung & C.W.Lin, T. solomonensis S.W.Chung, T.C.Hsu & C.W.Lin, in Chung, Hsu, Lin, Yang, Fanerii, Potisopa et Li, 2024. |
Abstract
Thismia (Thismiaceae), whose distributions are currently known from Asia, Australia, and South America, is newly recorded in the Solomon Islands. Through extensive field explorations, three new species of Thismia were discovered in the rainforest of the Solomon Islands and are herein delineated as T. occasa, T. chicoreoides, and T. solomonensis, all belonging to sect. Sarcosiphon. Comprehensive species descriptions, line drawings, and color plates are furnished for each species, accompanied by a distribution map delineating their respective ranges.
Keyword: biodiversity, Burmanniaceae, endemism, mycoheterotrophic, Sarcosiphon, tropical rainforest, taxonomy
Thismia occasa T.C.Hsu, S.W.Chung & C.W.Lin, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Among the species in Thismia sect. Sarcosiphon, T. occasa is most similar to T. crocea in habit and flower colour, but it is different in its larger mitre approximately 1/2.5 (vs. 1/3–1/4) the length of the whole flower, mitre with 3 impressed sutures (vs. nearly connate), annulus formed by 6 low rectangular lobes (vs. 6 rounded, bilamellate lobes), stamens pendent from the apical margin of the floral tube (vs. sunken inside the floral tube), and lateral appendage bilobed (vs. more or less truncate).
Etymology: The specific epithet "occasa" is derived
from the orange-red flower that imparts a sunset hue.
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| three new species of Thismia were discovered in the rainforest of the Solomon Islands and are delineate as T. occasa (left), T. chicoreoides (central), and T. solomonensis (right), all belonging to sect. Sarcosiphon. |
Thismia chicoreoides T.C.Hsu, S.W.Chung & C.W.Lin,
sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Similar to Thismia viridistriata as it
possesses a blackish-brown-tinged flower adorned with
verrucose or finger-like protrusions, however, T.
chicoreoides is different in its perianth inside with 12
vertical flat (vs. partly detached from its surface) ribs,
apical end of individual connective slightly verrucose (vs.
several hairs ca. 0.15–0.2 mm long), lateral appendage
central lobe being largest (vs. smallest) and stigma lobes
triangular (vs. inverted trapezoid).
Etymology: The specific epithet "chicoreoides" refers
to the verrucose flower, which resembles the appearance
of some species of Chicoreus, such as C. paini Houart.
Thismia solomonensis S.W.Chung, T.C.Hsu & C.W.Lin,
sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Thismia solomonensis resembles T. nigra
in vegetative characters. However, the new species differs
from the latter in its shorter stem, 2–12 mm tall (vs. up to
80 mm), yellowish-bronze perianth coloration (vs.
blackish-tinged), unlobed individual connectives (vs. 2
small lobes), and a glabrous apex (vs. several long hairs
in the middle).
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the Solomon
Islands, where the new species was discovered.
Shih-Wen Chung, Tian-Chuan Hsu, Che-Wei Lin, Tsung-Yu Aleck Yang, Moffat Fanerii, Fred Potisopa and Chia-Wei Li. 2024. Three New Species and New Records of Thismia (Thismiaceae) in The Solomon Islands. Taiwania. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.336
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