[Botany • 2025] Thismia selangorensis (Thismiaceae) • A New mitriform Species of Thismia sect. Geomitra from Selangor, Malaysia

 

Thismia selangorensis  Siti-Munirah & Gim Siew,  

in Siti-Munirah, Siew, Mat-Tahir et Azhar, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.157968 

Abstract

Thismia selangorensis, a distinct mitriform species of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia, is described herein. It was first discovered in a tree hole on a riverbank in Taman Eko Rimba Sungai Chongkak, Selangor, Malaysia. This new species is superficially similar to members of Thismia section Geomitra in that it has coralliform roots, inner tepals forming a mitre with three appendages on top, and stamens with a prominent dorsal rib. However, T. selangorensis differs from known species of T. sect. Geomitra in several morphological features, including the colour of the flowers, the shape of the mitre, the shape of the inner tepal lobes forming the mitre, and the presence of translucent reticulation on the inner surface of the floral tube. Thismia selangorensis is provisionally classified as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Key words: Ecopark, endemic, Geomitra, mitre, achlorophyllous plant, Southeast Asian flora, taxonomy

Thismia selangorensis.
 A. Plants with flowers and roots; B. Top view of mitre (inner tepals); C. Side view of inner tepal; D. Ovary, stigma, and style; E. Floral tube with mitre removed and minute triangular outer tepal; F. Longitudinal section of floral tube with three stamens; G. Outer view of three pendulous stamens; H, I. View of inner side of floral tube, upper part (H), lower part (I); J. Bract; K. Leaf. Drawn by Mohammad Aidil Nordin from the spirit material (FRI 79179 & 79180).

Thismia selangorensis.
A. A plant with full flower and coralliform roots; A1. Claviform tip of mitre appendage; B. Outer tepal and filaments; C. Inner tepal forming a mitre; D. Floral tube and mitre; E. Mitre viewed from above; F. Floral tube with ovary and flower bud surrounded by bracts and tepals split on apex; G. Longitudinal section of floral tube, showing inner part (H); H. Inner surface of floral tube; I. Top view of stamens; J. Inner view of a stamen; K. Outer view of a stamen; L. Six stamens viewed from below; M. Stigma. Photos by Siti-Munirah MY and Mohd Faizal; all from FRI 79179 & 79180; images not to scale (see dimensions in description and Fig. 2).

Thismia selangorensis in its natural habitat.
A. Young flower that is not yet fully developed (uncollected plant); B. Mature flower living just beside the roots of a tree buttress (uncollected plant); C. A clump of T. selangorensis at different stages in its natural habitat (FRI 79182); D. A clump of flowers showing a different stage of mitre (FRI 79179 & FRI 79180). Photos by Gim Siew (A–C) and Mohd Faizal (D).

 Thismia selangorensis Siti-Munirah & Gim Siew, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Thismia selangorensis differs from other species of Thismia sect. Geomitra in the following combinations of characteristics: the flower is white to brownish with peach colouration; the distal part of inner tepals is arrow-like with distinct basal lobes, perfectly connate to each other when young, partly splitting on the sutures with age; mitre is wide and resembling a large umbrella, convex and trilobed when viewed from above in younger flowers, flat and irregularly hexalobed in old flowers.

 Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Tan Gim Siew, Mohd Faizal Mat-Tahir and Ahmad Azhar. 2025. Thismia selangorensis (Thismiaceae): A New mitriform Fairy Lantern Species from Selangor, Malaysia.  PhytoKeys. 267: 9-21. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.157968 [28 Nov 2025]

[Botany • 2025] Thismia dasyantha & T. velaris (Thismiaceae) • Two Species of Thismia sect. Thismia from Sarawak, Malaysia

Thismia dasyantha &
Thismia velaris 

Dančák, Sochor & Hroneš, 

 in Dančák, Hroneš, Sochor, Uvírová, Blažek, Yunoh et Yiing, 2025.

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.2  

  Researchgate.net/publication/394545435

Abstract

Thismia velaris and T. dasyantha (Thismiaceae), two new species from Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo), are described. Key distinguishing features, particularly in floral structure, are highlighted through comparative morphological analyses accompanied by illustrations. Additionally, phylogenetic relationships are assessed using molecular data, and both newly described species are placed within the broader evolutionary framework of Thismia. Both species, being characterized by vermiform roots and six free tepals of equal shape and size, are classified within Thismia sect. Thismia subsect. Odoardoa. Preliminary conservation assessments, following IUCN Red List criteria, suggest that both species may be at risk due to their restricted distributions and potential habitat threats. Through the discovery of T. velaris and T. dasyantha, the diversity and biogeographical patterns of Thismia in Borneo are further elucidated, emphasizing the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts.

Borneo, Dioscoreales, mycoheterotrophy, rainforest, taxonomy, Monocots

Thismia velaris.
A. Habit of flowering plant. B. Outer view of stamens inside the dissected floral tube. C. Longitudinally dissected floral tube with inner view of stamens, transverse bars and style.

 Drawn by Nela Malá from Dančák & Sochor BOR30/23.

Thismia velaris Dančák, Sochor & Hroneš, 
A–D. Overall appearance showing more (A, C, D) and less (B) common morphotypes. E. Top view of flower. F. Dissected floral tube with colourless transverse bars and showing the position of stamen tube and style with stigma. G. Outer view of stamen with lateral appendage which central part is elongated into membranaceous veil. H. Lateral view of stamen (the neighbouring connective cut off). I. Top of the supraconnective (viewed from inside) with three distinct lobes. J. Style and stigma.

Photos by M. Sochor (A, C, E–J) from Dančák & Sochor BOR30/23 and M. Hroneš (B, D) from uncollected plants recorded at the same locality in 2024.

Thismia velaris Dančák, Sochor & Hroneš, sp. nov. 

 Diagnosis:—Thismia velaris is externally similar to T. malayana but differs by floral tube colourless translucent between veins (vs. brown in the upper half), flat annulus (vs. outer margin of annulus prominently raised), having three triangular lobes on supraconnective apex (vs. five appendages of three different shapes and sizes), and the central part of the lateral appendage elongated into membranaceous veil exceeding the apices of the supraconnective lobes (vs. central part of the lateral appendage without the veil, not exceeding the apex of the supraconnective appendages).

Etymology:—The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word velum (veil, curtain), referring to the unique veil-like structure hanging from the lateral appendage of the stamen.

Thismia dasyantha.
A. Habit of flowering plant. B. View of the flower from the top. C. Dissected floral tube showing outer view of stamens, style and reticulate structure on the inner surface of the floral tube. D. Dissected floral tube showing inner view of stamens, style and reticulate structure on the inner surface of the floral tube.

Drawn by Nela Malá Dančák & Hroneš MDMH2023/32.

Thismia dasyantha Dančák, Sochor & Hroneš, 
A–C. Overall appearance. D. Top view of flower. E. Distinctly verrucose flower bud and dissected floral tube showing position of stamen tube. F. Annulus with a hexaradial figure resembling a stylised outline of a flower on its inner margin. G. Outer view of stamen. H. Inner view of stamens. I. Style and stigma viewed from above. J. Fruiting plant with elongated pedicel and capsule.

 Photos by V. T. Blažek (A, I) and M. Hroneš (B, D, E, G, H) from Dančák & Hroneš MDMH2023/32 and M. Hroneš (C, F, J) from uncollected plants recorded at the same site in 2024.

 

Thismia dasyantha Dančák, Sochor & Hroneš, sp. nov.  

Diagnosis:—Thismia dasyantha is distantly similar to T. pallida but differs in annulus indistinct, flat, with opening ca. 1 mm in diameter (vs. annulus distinct, raised, with opening ca. 2 mm), the opening resembling a schematic outline of a hexamerous angiosperm flower (vs. opening circular), tepals basally connate, 2.5–3 mm wide at the base (vs. free, ca. 2 mm wide at the base), tepal appendages 10–14 mm long (vs. ca. 3 mm long), three appendages (vs. five appendages) on supraconnective apex, the middle appendage being the shortest (vs. the longest), and stigma lobes deeply bifid (vs. shallowly notched).

Etymology:—The specific epithet is derived from the Greek words dasýs, meaning “hairy” and ánthos, meaning “flower”, referring to the prominent verrucae present on the outer surface of the floral tube, ovary and the abaxial side of the tepals, which resemble hairs.

 

Martin DANČÁK, Michal HRONEŠ, Michal SOCHOR, Alena UVÍROVÁ, Vojtěch Tobias BLAŽEK, Siti-Munirah Mat YUNOH and Ling Chea YIING. 2025. Thismia velaris and T. dasyantha, Two New Species of Thismia section Thismia subsect. Odoardoa (Thismiaceae) from Sarawak, Malaysia. Phytotaxa. 715(2); 117-128. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.715.2.2 [2025-08-19]   Researchgate.net/publication/394545435_Thismia_velaris_and_T_dasyantha_two_new_species_of_Thismia_from_Sarawak_Malaysia

[Botany • 2024] Thismia papillata (Thismiaceae) • A New Species from northern Vietnam

 

Thismia papillata Nuraliev & Yudina, 

in Nuraliev, Yudina, Dac, Kuznetsov, Kuznetsova et Semenyuk, 2024.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.655.3.4

Abstract 

Thismia papillata, a new species of Thismiaceae, is described and illustrated. The species was discovered in 2023 in Thanh Hoa Province, northern Vietnam. The new species is readily distinguishable from most of its congeners by the presence of appendages of outer and inner tepals, inner tepals fused into a mitre, absence of a wing-like appendage of supraconnective and absence of interstaminal glands. Thismia papillata is similar to T. abei, T. taiwanensis and T. tuberculata, differing mainly in prominently papillate outer hypanthium surface, appendages of the outer tepals up to 15 mm long, appendages of the inner tepals up to 9 mm long, and column-like placentas. Gaps in understanding of interactions between the inner tepals in Thismia are highlighted that are related to the postgenital tepal fusion and tepal aestivation. Similar uncertainties in determination of fusion between the stamens are also uncovered.  

Eastern Indochina, Flora, mitre, mycoheterotrophy, plant diversity, plant taxonomy, stamen tube, Xuan Lien Nature Reserve, Fungi

Maxim S. NURALIEV, Sophia V. YUDINA, Le Xuan DAC, Andrey N. KUZNETSOV, Svetlana P. KUZNETSOVA and Irina I. SEMENYUK. 2024. Thismia papillata (Thismiaceae), A New Species from northern Vietnam. Phytotaxa. 655(3); 261-271. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.655.3.4 [2024-06-26]

[Botany • 2025] Thismia aliasii (Thismiaceae) • A New Species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

 

 Thismia aliasii Siti-Munirah, 

in Siti-Munirah et Alias, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.254.136085

Abstract

A new mycoheterotrophic species, Thismia aliasii, is described and illustrated. This species inhabits a hill dipterocarp forest in mountains of eastern Peninsular Malaysia. Thismia aliasii differs from other Thismia species by the following features: tepals equal in size and shape with different length of their appendages, appendages of the outer tepals shorter than those of the inner tepals (3.5 mm vs. ca. 26–32 mm long), stamen supraconnective at apex with three long filiform appendages and two acute appendages, and the margins of individual connectives abaxially raised into a conspicuous rib. With respect to floral morphology, T. aliasii should be placed to Thismia subsect. Odoardoa. According to the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List, T. aliasii is provisionally classified as Critically Endangered (CR).

Key words: Achlorophyllous plants, endemism, Gunung Chemerong, Monocots, Terengganu, Thismia subsection Odoardoa

 Thismia aliasii 
A flowering plant (over-brightened by a camera flash) B anthetic flower, top view B1 annulus, top view B2 tip of appendage of outer tepal B3 tip of appendage of inner tepal C distal portion of flower, lateral view C1 flower, top view D floral tube (with its apex removed), side view D1 outer surface of floral tube (showing tiny glands) E inner surface of flower tube, pistil and ovary E1 longitudinal section of ovary and pistil with stigma F fruiting plant F1 seeds in capsule F2 seeds.

Photos by Siti-Munirah (A, C1: FRI 79119; A1, B–E: FRI 79167; E1, F1, F2: FRI 91119, spirit material) and Mohamad Alias (F: FRI 91119).

 Thismia aliasii 
A plant with flower and roots B top view of flower showing tepals and annulus C bract (abaxial view) D leaf (abaxial view) E style and stigma F stamens (outer view) G stamens (inner view) H fruiting plant.

All drawn by Mohamad Aidil Noordin from spirit material, FRI 91119.

Habitat and habit of Thismia aliasii
A plants in situ B plant with flower bud C plant with anthetic flower.

All photos by Siti-Munirah.

 Thismia aliasii Siti-Munirah, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Thismia aliasii is very similar to the species of the T. subsection Odoardoa, as the tepals are the same in shape and size. However, the tepal appendages of the new species are of unequal length, the inner ones are longer than the outer ones, while the tepal appendages of the other species are of equal length. In addition, in the new species the margins of the individual connectives are raised abaxially into the conspicuous rib, whereas connectives are almost flat abaxially in the rest of the species.

Landscapes of Gn. Chemerong and the species of Thismia found there
A the Chemerong waterfall with a height of 370 m B the Chemerong River not far from the habitat of T. aliasii
C Thismia aliasii, an individual discovered by Mohamad Alias in 2019 (FRI 91119) D Thismia aseroe (FRI 79116) found on the trail at Hutan Lipur Chemerong.

Photos by Siti-Munirah (A, B, D) and Mohamad Alias (C).

Etymology: The species is named after Mr. Alias (the second author), a current ranger of the Terengganu Forestry Department (JPNT), who is also a freelance photographer (known as John Sp) and who was the first to discover the species.

Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah and Shakri Mohamad Alias. 2025. Thismia aliasii (Thismiaceae), A New Species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 254: 175-188. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.254.136085

[Botany • 2024] Thismia perlisensis (Thismiaceae) • A New red-annulus Species of Thismia sect. Thismia from Peninsular Malaysia

Thismia perlisensis  Besi & Rusea,

in Besi, Jabar, Rahman, Saad, Ahmadni et Go, 2024.  

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.1.1 

 

Abstract

A new species, Thismia perlisensis, found during a scientific expedition in the Perlis State Park, is described and illustrated. The new species was discovered in a wetland forest on a limestone foothill. Morphological description, photographic data including habitat, and a key to the species of the Thismia Sect. Thismia Subsect. Brunonithismia recorded from Malaysia are provided. The new species is easily distinguished from the similar species, T. arachnites, T. javanica, T. tentaculata, and T. kenyirensis by the prominent reddish dome-shaped annulus instead of ring-like with rim, deeply trilobed stigma with bifid and subulate lobes, and claviform apices of the inner tepals.

Key words: THISMIACEAE, endemism, mycoheterotrophic plants, Perlis state, Peninsular Malaysia, plant diversity, Monocots

Thismia perlisensis in the wild.

 Images by Edward Entalai Besi and Muhamad Ikhwanuddin Mat Esa.

Flower’s dissection of Thismia perlisensis.
 A. Plant. B. Flower. C. Claviform apex of an inner tepals. D. Dome-shaped annulus. E. Stamens and pistil. F. Stamens. G. Anther thecae. H. View of the supraconnectives. I, J. Pistil with stigmas straightened showing subulate lobes. B–J spirit-preserved specimens.

 Images by Edward Entalai Besi.

Thismia perlisensis Besi & Rusea sp. nov. 

 Type:—MALAYSIA. Peninsular Malaysia: Perlis State, Perlis State Park, ca. 100 m elev., 4 October 2022, E.E. Besi, M.I. Mat Esa, S.H. Tan, D. Sandin & R. Go EDW136 (holotype UPM spirit collection). 

Diagnosis:—Thismia perlisensis can be easily distinguished from the Thismia arachnites Ridley (1905: 197) and Thismia javanica J.J.Sm. (1910: 32) by the blood-red, dome-shaped annulus (vs. ring-like with rim, orange annulus), prominent trilobed stigma with 1.8 mm long, bifid and subulate lobes (vs. ovate, truncate stigma), and claviform apices of appendages of the inner tepals (vs. subulate apices of appendages of the inner tepals). 

 

Etymology:—The specific epithet is named after Perlis State, the type locality of this species.

 

Edward Entalai Besi, Qistina Anis Mad Jabar, Syamil Abd Rahman, Mohd Zulkifly Saad, Ag Shaffie Ag Ahmadni and Rusea Go. 2024. Thismia perlisensis (Thismiaceae), A New red-annulus Thismia Species from Peninsular Malaysia.  Phytotaxa. 675(1); 1-10. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.1.1 [2024-12-02] 

[Botany • 2024] Thismia jinzun (Thismiaceae) • A New Species from Hainan Island, China

 

Thismia jinzun  

in Lu, Yang, Qin et Xu, 2024.  

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.664.4.4

Abstract

Thismia jinzun, a new fully mycoheterotrophic species has been discovered from Hainan Province, China. Thismia jinzun is similar to T. javanica and T. tentaculata in overall appearance, but it obviously differs from the latter two species in several characters. Thismia jinzun has 10–12 mm long, gold-yellow tepal appendages (vs 20–30 mm long, orange-white in T. javanica, and ca. 17 mm long, orange-red in T. tentaculata), a gold-yellow floral tube (vs pale orange or pale yellow in T. javanica and white in T. tentaculata), and a gold-yellow annulus (vs orange in T. javanica and bright yellow in T. tentaculata). According to the IUCN criteria, the conservation status of T. jinzun is classified as Critically Endangered (CR).

conservation status, IUCN, tropical forest, Thismia jinzun, Fungi 

Thismia jinzun sp. nov. 

Chunyang LU, Haijun YANG, Wenhao QIN and Han XU. 2024. Thismia jinzun (Thismiaceae), A New Species of Thismia Genus from Hainan Island, China.  Phytotaxa. 664(4); 273-280. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.664.4.4

[Botany • 2024] Thismia occasa, T. chicoreoides & T. solomonensis • Three New Species and New Records of Thismiaceae in The Solomon Islands

 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. 

Taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2009

  facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice 

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.

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

 Taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2009

  facebook.com/TaiwaniaOffice/posts/891632916320734

 facebook.com/Darthvaderiana/posts/10225907291852504

[Botany • 2024] Thismia malayana (Thismiaceae) • A New Species of Thismia sect. Odoardoa from Peninsular Malaysia

 Thismia malayana Siti-Munirah, Hardy-Adrian, Mohamad-Shafiq & Irwan-Syah,

in Siti-Munirah, Hardy-Adrian, Mohamad-Shafiq, Irwan-Syah et Hamidi, 2024.

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.242.120967

Abstract

A new species of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia from Malaysia is described and illustrated. Thismia malayana introduced here was found in two localities: in the lowlands of Gunung Angsi Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan, and in the hilly dipterocarp forests of Gunung Benom in Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve, Pahang. Thismia malayana falls into the section Thismia subsect. Odoardoa, as it has creeping vermiform roots and free equal tepals. It is characterised by the following taxonomically important features: a sepia-brown, urceolate-curved floral tube, free equal tepals with terminal appendages, prominent bright yellow annulus and bright violet-blue stamens each bearing five appendages (one pair of club-shaped inwards-pointing, one pair of acute outwards-pointing, and one central appendage). According to the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List, T. malayana is provisionally classified as Vulnerable.

Key words: Negeri Sembilan, new species, Pahang, Thismia subsect. Odoardoa, Vulnerable

 Thismia malayana with scales (the finest grade is 0.5 mm)
A side view B top view C the size compared to the 20-sen coin (23.59 mm in diameter).

Photos by Hardy-Adrian from uncollected plants.

 Thismia malayana A flowering plant A1 floral tube, inner surface A2 annulus and stamen filaments, view from inside B inflorescence with anthetic flower and several young fruits B1 style and stigma B2 annulus, top view C flower, side view D, E stamens, view from inside and from outside, E1 stamen supraconnectives: one pair of club-shaped inwards-pointing, one pair of acute outwards-pointing, and one central appendage F stamen supraconnectives, apical view G stamen tube, view from below H, H1 fruit after dehiscence, top view, H2 seeds I shoot base with roots.

 Photos by Siti-Munirah (A1–I) and Hardy-Adrian (A) from FRI 101701 (A), FRI 101702 (F, G, I), FRI 101703 (E1), FRI 101705 (B, B2, H, H1, H2) & FRI 101710 (A1, A2, B1, C, D, E). Images not to scale (see dimensions in description and Figs 1, 3).

Thismia malayana 
A flowering plant B flower, side view C flower, view from above D flower, longitudinal section E three stamens, outer view F tepal with terminal appendage, adaxial view G ovary, longitudinal section H style and stigma I involucral bract, adaxial view J leaf, adaxial view.

All drawn by Mohamad Aidil Noordin from spirit material, Siti-Munirah FRI 101705 (A–C); FRI 101701 (D–J).

 Thismia malayana Siti-Munirah, Hardy-Adrian, Mohamad-Shafiq & Irwan-Syah, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Thismia malayana resembles T. chrysops but differs by the brown-whitish colour of the floral tube (vs. very dark sepia brown), glabrous surface of the tepal appendages (vs. finely ciliate), presence of transverse bars at inner surface of floral tube (vs. bars absent), supraconnective apex of each stamen with 5 appendages: one pair of club-shaped inwards-pointing, one pair of acute outwards-pointing, and one central appendage (vs. 7 appendages: one pair of club-shaped, one pair of acute and 3 central appendages).

Etymology: The specific epithet malayana is derived from Malaya, a name formerly used for Peninsular Malaysia. The epithet refers to the known region of the species distribution.

Habitat (in situ) of  Thismia malayana in Ulu Bendul RP in Gunung Angsi FR (A, B) and the Tengku Hassanal WR (C–E)
A Thismia malayana at its habitat, which is located right next to the main trail to Gunung Angsi B Siti-Munirah showing the habitat of T. malayana C path to Lata Bujang and Gunung Benom D the plants growing on rotten wood E Mohamad-Shafiq observed a Thismia malayana in its habitat.

 Photos by Siti-Munirah (A, B) and Mohamad-Shafiq (C–E).

 Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Chin Hardy-Adrian, Sharipudin Mohamad-Shafiq, Zainuddin Irwan-Syah and Abd Halim Hamidi. 2024. Thismia malayana (Thismiaceae), A New mycoheterotrophic Species from Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 242: 229-239. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.242.120967

  

[Botany • 2024] Thismia malipoensis (Thismiaceae) • A New Species of Thismia sect. Glaziocharis from Yunnan, China

Thismia malipoensis J. D. Ya & W. B. Yu,  

in Ya, Chen, Zhang, Zhu, Cai et Yu, 2024. 

麻栗坡水玉杯  ||  DOI: 10.3372/wi.54.54102

  

Abstract

Thismia Griff. (Thismiaceae) is a holo-mycoheterotrophic genus with more than 100 species. In this study, phylogenetic analyses supported that T. malipoensis from Yunnan is a new species in T. sect. Glaziocharis. Morphologically, this new species can be distinguished from its phylogenetic sister species T. abei by having the annulus of the flower expanded and modified into a cucullate (hood-like) structure with zygomorphic symmetry with one opening on one side. Biogeographical inference showed that SW China to Indo-Burma and the Sunda Shelf region was suggested as the ancestral distribution region of Thismia s.s., then eastward to SE China and Japan, and southward to New Guinea to Australia, respectively. The Chinese species should have originated from at least two different ancestral sources, and geographical isolation caused the divergence between T. malipoensis and T. abei at 17.47 Mya.

KEYWORDS: biogeography, China, conservation, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy, Thismia, Thismiaceae

Thismia malipoensis, different views of flower – A, D: bottom view; B: lateral view; C: top view; E, F: front view.

– Source of material: J.-D. Ya & W. Zhang 19CS18569. 

– Photographed by J.-D. Ya.

Thismia malipoensis – A: plant; B, C: plants in habitat.

– Source of material: J.-D. Ya & W. Zhang 19CS18569. – Photographed by J.-D. Ya.

Thismia malipoensis J. D. Ya & W. B. Yu, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis — Thismia malipoensis belongs to T. sect. Glaziocharis and can be distinguished from its phylogenetic sister species T. abei by having the annulus of the flower expanded and modified into a cucullate (hood-like) structure with zygomorphic symmetry with one opening on one side. Moreover, T. malipoensis can be distinguished from the morphologically similar T. belumensis, in that the outer and inner tepal appendages are spreading (vs erect) and equal in length by less than 2 cm (vs outer tepal appendage 1.5–2.5 cm and inner tepal appendage c. 3 cm), the inner tepal base is fimbriate at the margin (vs entire) and the inner tepal tip is subulate (vs clavate).

Etymology — The specific epithet “malipoensis” refers to the county name Malipo of Wenshan Prefecture, the type locality of the new species.

Chinese name — 麻栗坡水玉杯 (má lì pō shuǐ yù bēi).

Ji-Dong Ya, Hai-Yao Chen, Wei Zhang, Ren-Bin Zhu, Jie Cai and Wen-Bin Yu. 2024. Phylogenetic and Biogeographical Analyses of Thismia (Thismiaceae) support T. malipoensis as the eighth species in China. Willdenowia. 54(1); 47-63. DOI: 10.3372/wi.54.54102

 twitter.com/thismiaguy/status/1763168009990922458

 

[Botany • 2024] Relictithismia kimotsukiensis (Thismiaceae) • A New Genus and Species from southern Japan with discussions on its phylogenetic relationship

 

Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane,
Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane, 

in Suetsugu, Nakamura, Nakano et Tagane, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1007/s10265-024-01532-5

Abstract

The family Thismiaceae, known as “fairy lanterns” for their urn- or bell-shaped flowers with basally fused tepals, consists of non-photosynthetic flowering monocots mainly in tropical regions, extending into subtropical and temperate areas. Here, we propose a new mycoheterotrophic genus, Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane (Thismiaceae), with its monotypic species Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane from Kimotsuki Mountains in the Osumi Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island, southern Japan. Relictithismia resembles Haplothismia Airy Shaw in having a cluster of tuberous roots, a feature previously observed only in this genus within the family Thismiaceae. However, it differs in having solitary flowers (vs. 2–6-flowered pseudo-raceme in Haplothismia), anther thecae largely separated (vs. connate), and the presence of an annulus (vs. absent). Additionally, Relictithismia differs from the geographically overlapping genus Thismia Griff. in its stamen structure and the position of the annulus. In Relictithismia, the stamens lack connectives, and its free filaments arise from the annulus located inside the perianth mouth, while in Thismia, the stamens typically have connate connectives, forming a staminal tube pendulous from the annulus located at the mouth of the floral tube. Our morphological and phylogenetic data indicated that R. kimotsukiensis holds an early-diverging position within the family, situated outside the Old World Thismia clade. This paper offers an extensive description and color photographs of R. kimotsukiensis, complemented by notes on its phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history.

 

Keywords: Angiosperms, Endemic, Flora, Dioscoreales, East Asia, Taxonomy

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis.
a Habit. b Close-up of root surface. c Longitudinal section of flower. d Anther. e Stigma surface. f Immature fruit.

Materials from Y. Nakamura & S. Tagane 23060901 (KAG). Drawn by S. Tagane

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis.
a Habit. b Flower, top view. c Flower, diagonal top view. d Flower, lateral view. e Tuberous roots. f Close-up of root. g Longitudinal section of floral tube showing stamens, style, and stigma. h Longitudinal section of floral tube with stamens. i Style and stigma. j Annulus and stamens. k Anthers. l Transverse section of ovary with three equal placentas and numerous ovules.

 Materials from Y. Nakamura & S. Tagane 23060901 (a–f, h–l for TNS, g for KAG). Scale bars: 10 mm (a), 5 mm (b–e and g–h), and 1 mm (f and i–l)

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis and its habitat at the type locality.
a & b A secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest where R. kimotsukiensis was found. c & e Flower, top view. d & f Flower, lateral view.

Scale bars: 10 mm. Photos (a & b) were taken by Yasunori Nakamura on 3 June 2022, and photos (c–f) were taken by Shuichiro Tagane on 9 June 2023. Photos (e & f) were captured after collection

Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane, gen. nov.

Diagnosis Relictithismia resembles Haplothismia in possessing a cluster of tuberous roots, yet it is clearly distinguished by its solitary flowers (vs. 2–6-flowered pseudo-raceme in Haplothismia), largely separate anther thecae (vs. connate), and the presence of an annulus (vs. absence).

Etymology: The name of the new genus, Relictithismia, is a combination of the Latin word “relictus”, meaning “left behind”, and the generic name Thismia. The name reflects its morphological characteristics that serve as a bridge between the early-diverging genera in Thismiaceae and the genus Thismia, showcasing the putative ancestral condition of these plant groups.

Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane, sp. nov.

Etymology: The species epithet refers to the type locality of the new species.

Vernacular name: Mujina-no-shokudai (in Japanese). The vernacular name is inspired by its apparent resemblance to and the distinct diffrences from species of Thismia, locally referred to as “tanuki-no-shokudai,” meaning a candlestick used by a raccoon dog. The term “mujina” is an old Japanese name for a badger, known as “anaguma” in Japanese, although historically and regionally, it has sometimes also been associated with raccoon dogs. Therefore, we consider that this name aptly represents the similarity and differences between Thismia and Relictithismia. Moreover, the name “mujina-no-shokudai” (= a candlestick used by a badger) fits its ecology, as the majority of the plant, even during the flowering stage, remains buried underground beneath fallen leaves, reminiscent of a badger burrowing underground.

Distribution Japan, Kagoshima Pref., Kimotsuki-gun, Kimotsuki-cho (currently known only from the type locality).

Kenji Suetsugu, Yasunori Nakamura, Takafumi Nakano and Shuichiro Tagane. 2024. Relictithismia kimotsukiensis, A New Genus and Species of Thismiaceae from southern Japan with discussions on its phylogenetic relationship.  Journal of Plant Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10265-024-01532-5