Thismia megalongensis C.A.Hunt, G.Steenbeeke & V.Merckx APNI* Description: Achlorophyllous little herb, with creeping vermiform 1–2 mm thick rhizome that infrequently branches.
Leaves absent; colourless bracts present on the peduncle, to 7 mm long, the uppermost clasping the base of the flower
Flowers solitary, 15–25 mm long (including dorsal awns on inner perianth lobes), usually fully emergent above the soil, with the base of the flower at about the same level as the litter, solitary on a short to elongate scape 1–2 mm wide, 10–60 mm in length. Perianth urceolate, 10–16 mm long, 4–6 mm wide, white at the base, rich orange from near base to apex, with 6 segments fused for the basal ¾ of their length, the upper part of the segments forming an open 3-way arch or mitre in the apical ¼. Perianth segments with a prominent central rib, each segment fused along the margin to the adjacent segment with an elongate region of thickened darker orange tissue, inner and outer surfaces irregularly rugose. Outer perianth segments each forming an abaxial lobe out from the perianth tube, with a prominent bristle developing from the central rib and extending outwards beyond the apex of the lobe, (2–)3–6(–8) mm long. Inner perianth segments connate at the top forming a mitre, with an apical awn developing from the central rib on the outer surface of each. Awns extend beyond the mitreform apex, decumbent to near erect, often curved, (3–)4–6(–9) mm long. Stamens hanging as a prominent 6-lobed annulus, deep orange, with a central rib, ending in a distal 2-lobed skirt and inner petticoat-like appendage with a fine straight or curved bristle.
Fruit ovoid, with a raised rim around the apical edge, c. 4 mm in diameter, fleshy, whitish. Seeds globoid to ellipsoid, golden-brown, 0.25–0.3 mm.
Distribution and occurrence: Known from only one location in the upper Blue Mountains. Leaf litter in closed mesophyll forest.
NSW subdivisions: CT
Text by KL Wilson (Dec 2014); edited KL Wilson (Jan 2015)
Taxon concept: Hunt, Steenbeeke & Merckx, Telopea 16: 165-174 (2014)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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