Thismia singeri (Thismiaceae), an augmented description and first record for Brazil

Abstract

Thismia singeri, is described for the first time for Brazil, being the first record of this family for Pará State and the third record for this rare species in nature. In Pará state, northern Brazil, this species was found growing in Itaituba municipality near the River Tapajós, in a well preserved submontane rain forest with a dense canopy. Due to the holotype is incomplete, we provide a more comprehensive description for this species based on complete individuals, thus clarifying some aspects of its morphology such as the parietal placenta, the root system, and tepal morphology. This is the second species of Thismiaceae described for Amazonia. Thismia hyalina, the other Amazonian species, is easily distinguished from T. singeri by its tubers, leaves inserted just below the flower, the latter with two tepal whorls, the upper one clawed, reniform and erect, and the lower one linear triangular. © 2013 Botanical Society of Sao Paulo.