Summary
Thismia selangorensisa mitriform species distinct from the mycoheterotrophic genus Stamiadescribed in this document. It was first discovered in a tree hole on a river bank in Taman Eko Rimba Sungai Chongkak, Selangor, Malaysia. This new species is superficially similar to members of Stamia section Geomitra because it has coral-like roots, internal tepals that form a miter with three appendages at the top and stamens with a prominent dorsal rib. However, T. selangorensis differs from the known species of t. sect. Geomitra on several morphological characteristics, including the color of the flowers, the shape of the miter, the shape of the inner tepal lobes that form the miter, and the presence of translucent reticulation on the inner surface of the floral tube. Thismia selangorensis It is provisionally classified as Critically Endangered according to the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List.
Keywords: Ecopark, endemic, Geomitra, mitra, achlorophyll plant, Southeast Asian flora, taxonomy
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| Thismia selangorensis. A. Plants with flowers and roots; B. Top view of the miter (inner tepals); C. Lateral view of the inner tepal; D. Ovary, stigma and style; E. Miterless floral tube and minute triangular outer tepal; F. Longitudinal section of the floral tube with three stamens; G. Exterior view of three hanging stamens; H, I. View of the inner side of the floral tube, top (H), bottom (I); J. bract; K. sheet. Drawn by Mohammad Aidil Nordin from the spiritual material (FRI 79179 and 79180). |
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| Thismia selangorensis. A. A plant with full flowering and coral-like roots; A1. Claviform tip of mitered appendage; B. outer tepal and filaments; C. inner tepal forming a miter; D. Floral tube and miter; E. Mithras seen from above; F. Floral tube with ovary and bud surrounded by bracts and tepals divided at the apex; G. Longitudinal section of the floral tube, showing the inner part (H); H. inner surface of floral tube; I. Top view of stamens; J. Interior view of a stamen; K. Exterior view of a stamen; L. Six stamens seen from below; M. Stigma. Photos by Siti-Munirah MY and Mohd Faizal; all from VIE 79179 and 79180; images not to scale (see dimensions in description and Fig. 2). |
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| Thismia selangorensis in their natural habitat. A. Young flower that is not yet fully developed (unpicked plant); B. Mature flower living right next to the roots of a tree buttress (uncollected plant); C. A group of T. selangorensis at different stages of its natural habitat (FRI 79182); D. A group of flowers showing a different miter stage (FRI 79179 and FRI 79180). Photos by Gim Siew (A–C) and Mohd Faizal (D). |
Thismia selangorensis Siti-Munirah and Gim Siew, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Thismia selangorensis differs from other species of Stamia sect. Geomitra in the following combinations of characteristics: the flower is white to brown with peach coloration; the distal part of the inner tepals is arrow-shaped with distinct basal lobes, perfectly connate with each other when young and partially divided at the sutures with age; the miter is wide and resembles a large umbrella, convex and three-lobed when seen from above in younger flowers, flat and irregularly hexalobed in older flowers.
#Botany #Thismia #selangorensis #Thismiaceae #mitriform #species #Thismia #sect #Geomitra #Selangor #Malaysia
