Myrtle beech orchids
Townsonia deflexa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Acianthinae
Genus: Townsonia
Cheeseman[1]
Type species
Townsonia deflexa[2]
Cheeseman, 1906

Townsonia, commonly called myrtle beech orchids is a genus of two species of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. They form small clusters of plants with their tubers connected, each tuber with one or two leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous.

Description

Orchids in the genus Townsonia are terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, sympodial herbs which grow in small groups with their tubers connected by a fleshy root. Each tuber produces one or two leaves. The leaves are very thin with wavy margins. Those on non-flowering plants have a relatively long, fleshy petiole near ground level. Flowering plants have a similar leaf but lack a petiole, the leaf on the side of a brittle flowering stem. The flowers are small and pale coloured and have a dorsal sepal wider than the lateral sepals. The petals are much smaller than the sepals. The labellum is much different in size and shape from the petals and sepals, folded lengthwise with a narrow, ridge-like callus along the mid-line.[3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Townsonia was first formally described in 1906 by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman who published the description in Manual of the New Zealand Flora.[1] Cheeseman described T. deflexa in the same publication making it the type species.[2][5] The name Townsonia honours "Mr. W. Townson, of Westport", who discovered the species.[6]

The names of three species of Townsonia are accepted by Plants of the World Online as at August 2022:[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Townsonia". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Townsonia deflexa". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. ↑ Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 163. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. ↑ "Townsonia Cheeseman". Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Townsonia". APNI. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  6. ↑ Cheeseman, T. F. (1906), Manual of the New Zealand flora, J. Mackay, Govt. Printer, p. 691, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.12003, OCLC 4397520, OL 234533M, Wikidata Q51396409
  7. ↑ "Townsonia". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
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