Corsia ornata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Liliales |
Family: | Corsiaceae |
Genus: | Corsia |
Species: | C. ornata |
Binomial name | |
Corsia ornata | |
Corsia ornata is a species of flowering plant in the genus Corsia of the small family Corsiaceae, part of the monocot order Liliales. They are saprophytes (Myco-heterotrophs), lacking the ability to photosynthesise, being dependent on other organisms for their nutrition. The plant lives underground, sending up purplish stems above ground in order to flower. The leaves are reduced to scales. One of the six petal-like tepals named the labellum (a little lip), is specialised, being enlarged and hanging protectively over the reproductive organs. It was discovered in New Guinea in 1875, but has since been sighted in Queensland, Australia.
The Corsiaceae lack chlorophyll and hence the ability to photosynthesise, instead being mycoheterotrophic (deriving nutrition as parasites on fungi). C. ornata, although perennial, only appears above ground when flowering, arising from short creeping rhizomes, reaching up to 25 cm in height. From the rhizomes, arise long, cylindrical and finely corrugated, unbranched and upright growing stems that are terete (almost circular in cross section) and narrowly ribbed. The above ground portion of the plant is a purplish to purplish-red in color. Leaves are reduced to acute (sharply pointed) sheath-shaped scales 1–2 cm in length, arranged alternately on the stem, with 3–5 nerves and similar bracts. The pedicels are glabrous and 2.5–4 cm long. [2] [3]
The upright individual flowers are terminal and stand on flower stems that are 2.5–4 cm long. Of the six tepals (in two whorls), five are linear, obtuse and pale yellow in colour, 11–13 millimeters long, one-nerved and hairless. The sixth, outer tepal, called the labellum, is either light yellow to light purple with a darker purple veins nerve or purplish brown. It is greatly enlarged (1.2–1.8 cm long, 1–1.6 cm wide) and cordate (heart-shaped) and obtuse, with a cordate base. The labellum initially surrounds the flower bud and, after opening, protects the other flower organs. It has a basal callus that is white, broadly shell-shaped, 2–3.5 mm long and around 2.5 mm wide, with a tip that is rounded or slightly acuminate, finely papillate at the margins with 8 or 9 lateral nerves that are variously branched and 16–18 short lamellae radiating from the basal callus that are distinctly pilose. At the base, the labellum overhangs the reproductive organs umbrella-like, the 1 mm long gynostemium (fused stamens and pistil). The 1.5 mm filaments are dark purple, the anthers dark purple to pink, 0.5 by 1 mm. The style is about 1.5 mm in length and the capsule 2.5–3.5 cm. [2] [3]
Corsia ornata was first described by Odoardo Beccari in February 1875, and therefore bears his name (Becc.) as the botanical authority. It was the first species of the genus to be discovered and is therefore considered its type species. It is classified in the section Sessilis (named for their sessile labellum), the larger of the two sections of that genus, as one of 19 species. [1] [3]
Corsia ornata is found at a number of widely spaced locations in the western part of New Guinea, particularly on Bird's Head Peninsula. One sighting in Queensland, Australia, makes it the only species found outside of New Guinea. Corsia ornata occurs in forests, between 400 and 2,100 m, in humus rich soils. [4] [5]
Odoardo Beccari was an Italian botanist famous for his discoveries in Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia. He has been called the greatest botanist to ever study Malesia. His author abbreviation is Becc. when citing a botanical name.
Corsiaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants. The APG II system (2003) treats the family in the order Liliales, in the clade monocots. This is a slight change from the APG system, of 1998, which left the family unplaced as to order, but did assign it also to the monocots.
Nepenthes neoguineensis is a tropical pitcher plant native to the island of New Guinea, after which it is named.
Nepenthes izumiae is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows in montane forest at 1700–1900 m above sea level. It appears to be most closely related to N. lingulata and N. singalana.
Selenicereus hamatus is a species of Cactaceae and produces one of the largest flowers in the family. It is a cultivated ornamental vine. The species is native to Mexico.
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Calochilus robertsonii, commonly known as the purple beard orchid or purplish beard orchid, is a species of orchid native to Australia and New Zealand. It has a single dark green leaf and up to nine green to brown flowers with reddish or purplish stripes. The labellum has a glossy purple, mauve, or bronze-coloured beard with a ridge between the "eye" spots.
Corsia is a little-studied plant genus from the monocotyledon family Corsiaceae. It was first described in 1877 by Italian naturalist Odoardo Beccari and contains 25 species, all of which lack chlorophyll and parasitize fungi for nutrition. All 25 species are distributed through New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands and Queensland, Australia.
Rhizanthes lowii is a species of parasitic flowering plant without leaves, stems, roots, or photosynthetic tissue. It grows on the roots of the Tetrastigma vine. It includes the specimens with the largest measured flowers in Rhizanthes, from 25 to 43 cm across. The flowers are endothermic, not only producing their own heat, but they also have the rare ability to regulate their own temperature.
Pritchardia beccariana, the Kilauea pritchardia, or Beccari's loulu, is a species of palm tree in the genus Pritchardia that is endemic to wet forests on the eastern part of the island of Hawaiʻi, near Hilo.
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