First time recording plants without chlorophyll in Xuan Lien Conservation Area

The results came from an ecological and biodiversity survey conducted by the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center, Moscow University (Russia) and researchers at Xuan Lien Nature Reserve in Thuong Xuan district, Thanh Hoa. The study was published in the journal Phytotaxa in June.

Normally, plants with chlorophyll synthesize their own nutrients through photosynthesis. In contrast, most plants without chlorophyll (heterotrophic plants) must use nutrition through symbiosis with certain fungi during growth and development. Thismia papillata species was discovered in the genus Thismia, family Thismiaceae. Scientists discovered only one sample, which was first recorded to be distributed in Xuan Lien Nature Reserve at an altitude of 800 m above sea level.

According to the research team, the new discovery of heterotrophic plants without chlorophyll in Xuan Lien Conservation Area shows that this is one of the places with valuable biodiversity value in Vietnam as well as the Southeast region. Ah. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to research and evaluate more fully to promote the biodiversity, ecological and environmental values ​​of this area.

Thismia papillata is a very small herbaceous species that lives in heterotrophic symbiosis with fungi. Their stems are slightly succulent, their roots are fibrous, they live on land and like moderate humidity. When in bloom, the branch is about 1 mm long, bearing a single terminal flower surrounded by three bracts. The leaves are small, alternate or opposite, degenerated into triangular or ovoid scales, smooth, 2 mm long and have no chlorophyll. The loose bracts are pale white, inverted ovate shape, 4.0-4.9 mm long, tightly attached to the flower base. The flowers are bisexual, pale white, about 13 mm long, slightly tilted inverted cup shape, the outside has prominent papillae, the middle is bent about 90°.

The stamens are linked together to form a boot-shaped curved tube, the lower ovule consists of many cells. Flowers bloom in October. Thismia papillata has the most different characteristic compared to other species in the genus Thismia in the morphology of the outer and inner perianth appendages. The inner perianths are fused into a cap form, the appendages of the outer perianths are 15 mm long, the appendages of the inner perianths are 9 mm long.

To date, scientists have identified 109 species of the genus Tiet Mi worldwide, most species distributed from tropical and subtropical Asia, to temperate regions of Australia and the Americas. In Vietnam, scientists have identified 6 species belonging to the genus Tiet mi. What’s special is that all 6 species are distributed from Quang Tri upwards.