Thrixspermum Explained

Thrixspermum, commonly known as hairseeds[1] or 白点兰属 (bai dian lan shu),[2] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytes, lithophytes or terrestrial plants with flat, leathery leaves and short-lived flowers with the sepals and petals more or less similar to each other. The labellum is rigidly fixed to the column and has three lobes. The side lobes are erect and the middle lobe is thick and fleshy. There are about 190 species distributed from tropical and subtropical Asia to the Western Pacific. Most species grow in lowland or tropical rainforests up to an altitude of 1,200 m.

Description

Orchids in the genus Thrixspermum are epiphytic or lithophytic, rarely terrestrial, monopodial herbs with long thick roots, and flat, fleshy leaves arranged in two ranks with their bases sheathing the stem. The flowers are arranged on a pendulous or arching flowering stem arising from a leaf axil. The flowers are usually short-lived and often open for less than a day. The sepals are free from and more or less similar to each other. The petals are free from each other and similar to, but slightly shorter than the sepals. The labellum is stiffly attached to the column with a pouched base and three lobes, the side lobes erect, usually short and blunt and the middle lobe thick and fleshy. The fruit is a long, thin capsule.[3]

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Thrixspermum was first formally described in 1790 by João de Loureiro in Flora Cochinchinensis.[4] The name Thrixspermum is derived from the Ancient Greek words, meaning "hair" and meaning "seed".[5]

Species

The following is a list of species of Thrixspermum recognised by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at January 2019:

Distribution

Orchids in the genus Thrixspermum are found in China, Japan (including the Ryukyu Islands), Korea, Taiwan, India (including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, northern Australia (including Christmas Island), Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Caroline Islands. About fourteen species, two of which are endemic occur in China, nine are found in Taiwan and three in Australia.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones. David L.. A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. 2006. New Holland. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.. 1877069124. 456.
  2. Web site: Chen . Xinqi . Wood . Jeffrey J. . Thrixspermum . Flora of China . 7 January 2019.
  3. Web site: D.L.Jones . T.Hopley . S.M.Duffy . David L. Jones (botanist) . 2010 . 28 May 2021 . Thrixspermum . . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government.
  4. Book: de Loureiro . João . Flora Cochinchinensis . 1790 . 2 . Lisbon . 519–520 . 7 January 2019.
  5. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
  6. Web site: Thrixspermum . Digital Flora of Taiwan . 7 January 2019.

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