Description: Achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic herbs with fragile underground stems and roots.
Leaves reduced to scales.
The solitary flowers are the only part of the plant visible above the ground and leaf litter. Perianth lobes 6, linear-triangular, entire, sometimes absent. Stamens 6, extrorse; filaments short, filiform to ribbon shaped, connectives ± dilated, with 0–2 apical and 0–2 basal appendages. Ovary 1-locular; placentation free central; stigmas 3, lobes touching at tips.
Capsule fleshy, cup shaped; seeds brownish with spiral longitudinal ribs.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 50 species, America, South-East Asia, New Zealand & Australia. Australia: 4 species (native).
Text by D. J. Bedford & A. J. Whalen (1993); edited KL Wilson (Jan 2012; March 2012; Dec 2014; Jan 2015)
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Mitre-processes terminal, spreading or appressed to mitre, < 5 mm long; outer perianth bristle absent, [perianth red to orange] | Thismia rodwayi |
| Mitre-processes dorsal, erect or spreading, usually > 3 mm long; outer perianth bristle evident | 2 |
| 2 | Outer perianth bristles slender, 3–6 mm long; apical processes slender, 4–6 mm long; perianth red to orange | Thismia megalongensis |
| Outer perianth bristles thick, 9–11 mm long; apical processes well-developed, 20–25 mm long; perianth translucent to whitish, with processes often very pale to bright orange
Back to 1 | Thismia clavarioides |
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