Thismia lanternata, commonly known as fairy lantern, is a plant in the family Burmanniaceae found only in the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia.
| Fairy lantern | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Dioscoreales |
| Family: | Burmanniaceae |
| Genus: | Thismia |
| Species: | T. lanternata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thismia lanternata | |
Description
editThismia lanternata is a small underground herb and an obligate myco-heterotroph, that is, it lacks chlorophyll and relies on a symbiotic association with fungi to obtain its nutrients. The roots, stem and leaves of the plant remain underground and only the flower appears above ground. The leaves are scale-like, pale, and measure up to 5 mm long by 3 mm wide. The flowers are solitary and are about 25 mm long by 12 mm wide. Only one fruit (immature) has been observed, which measured about 5 mm long and wide.[4]
Taxonomy
editThis species was first described (as Thismia lanternatus) by the Australian botanist Wendy Elizabeth Cooper, and published in the journal Austrobaileya in 2017. The species epithet lanternata is a reference to the lantern-like flower.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editAs of June 2024[update], it is only known from collections in disturbed rainforest near Chilverton, between Evelyn and Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tableland, Queensland.[5]
Conservation
editDespite its extremely limited known range, Thismia lanternata is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act.[1] As of 21 June 2024[update], it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
References
edit- ^ a b "Species profile—Thismia lanternata". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Thismia lanternata". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Thismia lanternata W.E.Cooper". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ a b Cooper, W. E. (2017). "Thismia hawkesii W.E.Cooper and T. lanternatus W.E.Cooper (Thismiaceae), two new fairy lantern species from the Wet Tropics Bioregion, Queensland, Australia". Austrobaileya. 10 (1): 130–138. doi:10.5962/p.299895.
- ^ "Search: species: Thismia lanternata | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
External links
edit
- View a map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium