Myrmechila
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Myrmechila is a small genus from the orchid family Orchidaceae.
The name is derived from the Greek words myrmex (ant) and cheilos (lip), referring to the arrangement of the lip calli.
This genus of terrestrial tuberous plants is indigenous to Australia, where it is abundant, and New Zealand, where it is close to extinction. There are two ovate leaves with conspicuous venation. A large flower grows at the end of an upright stem. They are pollinated by sexual deception and pseudocopulation of specific male thynnine wasps from the family Tiphiidae.
These species used to belong to the genus Chiloglottis, but were transferred in 2005 by David Jones and Mark Clements to Myrmechila on morphological and molecular grounds.
[edit] Species
- Myrmechila formicifera (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem (E. Australia, presumed extinct in New Zealand): Ant Orchid
- Myrmechila platyptera (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem (New South Wales)
- Myrmechila trapeziformis (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem (New South Wales; almost extinct in New Zealand) : Broadlip Bird Orchid
- Myrmechila trullata (D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem (Queensland)
- Myrmechila truncata (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem (Queensland)
[edit] Intergeneric hybrid
- Chiloglottis × pescottiana R.S.Rogers (Chiloglottis valida x Myrmechila trapeziformis)
[edit] References
- Jones, D.L. & M.A. Clements (2005). "Miscellaneous Nomenclatural Notes and Changes in Australian, New Guinea and New Zealand Orchidaceae.". The Orchadian 15 (1): 33-42.
- Kew Botanical Gardens (January 2006). "Recent Orchid Nomenclature". Orchid Research Newsletter 47: 12-13.
- Chrystall L. (2001). "A new NZ native orchid Chiloglottis trapeziformis near Levin.". New Zealand Native Orchid Group Journal (Special feature) 81: 1-4.
- Rod Peakall, C. C. Bower, A. E. Logan and H. I. Nicol. "Confirmation of the Hybrid Origin of Chiloglottis × pescottiana (Orchidaceae: Diurideae). I. Genetic and Morphometric Evidence". Australian Journal of Botany 45 (5): 839-855.
