Cheilotheca

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Cheilotheca
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Subfamily: Monotropoideae
Tribe: Monotropeae
Genus: Cheilotheca
Hook.f.

Cheilotheca is a small genus of myco-heterotrophic plants in the family Ericaceae. They obtain their nutrients by parasitising fungi in the Russulaceae family. [1] As of 2025, the genus includes four species. [2]

Contents

Etymology

The genus was named by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1876. [3] The name is derived from the Greek word "cheilos", meaning a lip or an edge. The "theca" is a Latin term, meaning covering or sheath. Together they essentially mean "lipped sheath".

Taxonomy

Based on morphological analyses, Cheilotheca has been placed in the Ericaceae subfamily Monotropoideae. [4] The exact placement of Cheilotheca within the Monotropoideae is still unknown, but morphologically the genus most closely resembles Monotropa and Monotropastrum .

List of species

References

  1. ↑ Bidartondo, Martin I. (2005). "The evolutionary ecology of myco-heterotrophy". New Phytologist. 167 (2): 335–352. Bibcode:2005NewPh.167..335B. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01429.x. PMID   15998389.
  2. ↑ "Cheilotheca Hook.f. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
  3. ↑ Bentham, G., Hooker, J.D. (1876) Genera Plantarum Vol. 2. Reeve & Co., London.
  4. ↑ Kron, K.A., Judd, W.S., Stevens, P.F., Crayn, D.M., Anderberg, A.A., Gadek, P.A., Quinn, C.J., Luteyn, J.L. 2002. Phylogenetic classification of Ericaceae: molecular and morphological evidence. Botanical Review68: 335-423.


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