Thismia is a genus of myco-heterotrophic plants in family Burmanniaceae, known as "fairy lanterns". They are native to East and Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas.
Thismia are perennial, achlorophyllous, mycoheterotrophic, tuberous plants with branched or simple stems. The 1âÂÂ4 terminal, solitary flowers are erect. The androecium consists of 6 stamens. The gynoecium consists of one carpel.
The generic name Thismia refers to Thomas Smith (English microscopist, died ca. 1825). It is an anagram of his name.
Most Thismia species are threatened with extinction and many species are only known from very few collections. For instance, the IUCN conservation status of Thismia melanomitra is Vulnerable (VU), Thismia malayana is categorized as Vulnerable (VU), Thismia kobensis, which was previously believed to be extinct, is now categorized as Critically Endangered (CR), and Thismia americana is believed to be possibly extinct.
The flowers of Thismia tentaculata are pollinated by fungus gnats. The flowers of Thismia hongkongensis are visited by fungus gnats and scuttle flies.
The chromosome count of Thismia huangii is 2n = 18. The chromosome count of Thismia abei is 2n = 12.
It was published by William Griffith in 1845 with Thismia brunonis Griff. as the type species.
, Plants of the World Online recognised 108 species in this genus, as follows:
Recently described species include:
2024
2025