Oxygyne: An extraordinarily elusive flower

Abstract

Oxygyne is an exceptionally rare group of plants which are poorly known to science and are of critical conservation concern.

Fairy lanterns in focus

“…They are visible above ground only transiently when emerging to flower and fruit (Guo et al, 2019). Much like the neglected related genus Oxygyne , they are easily overlooked in deep shade or obscured by leaf litter, and so seldom recorded (Thorogood, 2019).…”

“…They are visible above ground only transiently when emerging to flower and fruit (Guo et al, 2019). Much like the neglected related genus Oxygyne, they are easily overlooked in deep shade or obscured by leaf litter, and so seldom recorded (Thorogood, 2019).Year on year new species discoveries of fairy lantern are made.Indeed the most comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus in 1938 (Jonker, 1938) covers just a fraction of the 80-90 species now known to science. The most recent cross-genus examination refutes the formerly accepted taxonomy and has brought an astonishing diversity of floral anatomy to our attention (Nuraliev et al, 2021;Shepeleva et al, 2020).…”

Thismia sitimeriamiae (Thismiaceae), an extraordinary new species from Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

“…Many species of Thismia have been seen or collected only once, from a single locality and their biology and ecology are poorly known. These elusive plants are visible only transiently, emerging to flower and set seed after heavy rain (Guo et al 2019) and, like the related genus Oxygyne Schltr., are easily overlooked because they occur in deep shade, often under leaf litter (Thorogood 2019). Therefore, they can be difficult to relocate after their initial discovery.…”

Rhizanthella: Orchids unseen

“…Mycoheterotrophic plants obtain carbon from other photosynthetic plants through a shared mycorrhizal fungal network, rather than by photosynthesis. Some are very rare, grow in deep shade under leaf litter, and are easily overlooked (Thorogood, ). None more so, than the Australian underground orchids of the genus Rhizanthella , in which three of the four recognized taxa, remarkably, do not even emerge above the surface of the soil when flowering (Figure ).…”