Thrixspermum
Thrixspermum is a genus of orchids, comprising around 100 species distributed from India to Southeast Asia and New Guinea. The genus is also present in several Pacific Islands and two species have been found in Australia. The type species isThrixspermum centipedia. These orchids live in lowland tropical rainforests up to an altitude of 1,200 m.
Thrixspermum are small or medium-sized monopodial epiphyte orchids. They have a typical flattened raceme that bears flowers in either two distinct ranks or any direction. Flowers are fragrant and last 2 to 3 days.
The scientific name refers to the hair-like seeds
Thrixspermum are small or medium-sized monopodial epiphyte orchids. They have a typical flattened raceme that bears flowers in either two distinct ranks or any direction. Flowers are fragrant and last 2 to 3 days.
The scientific name refers to the hair-like seeds
DESCRIPTION (FROM FLORA OF CHINA)Herbs, epiphytic, lithophytic, or rarely terrestrial, monopodial, medium-sized. Stems ascending, climbing, or pendulous, either short with several closely spaced leaves, or long with many, well-spaced leaves. Leaves flat, never terete or laterally compressed, sometimes fleshy, base sheathing, jointed. Inflorescence lateral, axillary, racemose, long or short, few to many flowered, a few flowers opening at a time, flowering of many lowland species initiated by a sudden afternoon rainstorm; floral bracts either distichous and persistent on a flattened rachis or facing all directions on terete rachis. Flowers usually ephemeral, often fully open for only half a day, small to medium-sized, very variable, from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diam. Sepals and petals subsimilar; lip adnate at base to end of column foot, immovable, saccate but not truly spurred, usually with a partly hairy or papillose front wall callus, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect; mid-lobe rather thick and fleshy. Column short, stout, sometimes winged, with a long foot; pollinia waxy, 4, appearing as 2 unequal masses, subglobose, attached by a common short and broad stipe to a solitary viscidium. Capsule long, slender
---FOC Vol. 25 Page 8, 14, 466 |
Species
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