Micropera Explained

Micropera, commonly known as dismal orchids^[1] or 小囊兰属 (xiao nang lan shu)^[2] is a genus of about twenty species of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are large epiphytes with thick roots, long, fibrous stems, linear leaves and whitish or yellow, non-resupinate flowers. The sepals and petals are similar to each other and the labellum is shoe-shaped or sac-like and has three lobes. It is found from Tibet to tropical Asia and the western Pacific Ocean.

Description

Orchids in the genus Micropera are epiphytic, monopodial herbs with fibrous stems up to 1m (03feet) long supported at intervals by coarse, thick roots. Widely spaced, leathery, linear leaves up to 170mm long and 20mm wide are arranged along the stems. Short flowering stems emerge oppose the leaves bearing non-resupinate, whitish, pink or yellowish flowers. The sepals and petals are narrow, fleshy and similar to and free from each other. The labellum is shoe-shaped or sac-like with a prominent spur near its base and has three lobes. The side lobes are broad and erect.^{[3] [4]}

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Micropera was first formally described in 1832 by John Lindley and the description was published in Edwards's Botanical Register.^{[5] [6]} The name Micropera is derived from the Ancient Greek words mikros meaning "small" or "little"^[7] and pera meaning "pouch" or "wallet".

Distribution

Species of Micropera are found from the Himalayas to China, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Species list

The following is a list of Micropera species accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at December 2018:

• Micropera callosa (Blume) Garay - Borneo, Sumatra, Java
• Micropera cochinchinensis (Rchb.f.) Tang & F.T.Wang - Vietnam
• Micropera costulata (J.J.Sm.) Garay - Sumatra
• Micropera draco (Tuyama) P.J.Cribb & Ormerod - Micronesia
• Micropera edanoi Ormerod - Philippines
• Micropera fasciculata (Lindl.) Garay - Queensland, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomons
• Micropera fuscolutea (Lindl.) Garay - Malaysia, Borneo
• Micropera loheri (L.O.Williams) Garay - Luzon
• Micropera mannii (Hook.f.) Tang & F.T.Wang - Assam, Bhutan
• Micropera obtusa (Lindl.) Tang & F.T.Wang - Assam, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand
• Micropera pallida (Roxb.) Lindl. - Assam, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java
• Micropera philippinensis (Lindl.) Garay - Philippines
• Micropera poilanei (Guillaumin) Garay - Hainan, Vietnam
• Micropera proboscidea (J.J.Sm.) Garay - Malaysia, Sumatra
• Micropera rostrata (Roxb.) N.P.Balakr. - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bangladesh
• Micropera secunda (Rolfe) Tang & F.T.Wang - Myanmar
• Micropera sheryliae P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm. - Malaysia
• Micropera sterrophylla (Schltr.) Garay - Sulawesi
• Micropera thailandica (Seidenf. & Smitinand) Garay - Thailand, Vietnam
• Micropera tibetica X.H.Jin & Y.J.Lai – Tibet
• Micropera uncinata (Teijsm. & Binn.) Garay - Java
• Micropera utriculosa (Ames) Gara - Philippines

See also

• List of Orchidaceae genera

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. 437.
2. Web site: Chen . Xinqi . Wood . Jeffrey J. . Micropera . Flora of China . 25 December 2018.
3. Web site: D.L.Jones . T.Hopley . S.M.Duffy . David L. Jones (botanist) . 2010 . 29 May 2021 . Micropera . . Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government.
4. Web site: Genus Micropera . Orchids of New Guinea . 25 December 2018.
5. Web site: Micropera. APNI. 25 December 2018.
6. Lindley . John . Micropera . Edwards's Botanical Register . 1832 . 18 . t. 1522 . 25 December 2018.
7. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C..