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Issue: Vol. 763 No. 3: 24 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-24
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.763.3.3
Page range: 235-249
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Rediscovery and revised description of Thismia bifida (Dioscoreales, Thismiaceae)

Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Palacký University; Šlechtitelů 27; Olomouc; CZ-77900; Czech Republic
Department of Botany; Palacký University; Šlechtitelů 27; Olomouc; CZ-77900; Czech Republic
Department of Botany; Palacký University; Šlechtitelů 27; Olomouc; CZ-77900; Czech Republic; Czech Agrifood Research Center; Šlechtitelů 29; CZ-77900 Olomouc; Czech Republic
Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Palacký University; Šlechtitelů 27; Olomouc; CZ-77900; Czech Republic
Department of Botany; Palacký University; Šlechtitelů 27; Olomouc; CZ-77900; Czech Republic
Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research; Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Jalan Tungku Link; BE 1410; Brunei Darussalam
Research & Development Division; Forest Department Sarawak; Kuching 93250; Sarawak; Malaysia
Brunei National Herbarium; Forestry Department; Jalan Menteri Besar; Bandar Seri Begawan BB 3910; Brunei Darussalam
Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research; Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Jalan Tungku Link; BE 1410; Brunei Darussalam
Monocots Brunei conservation mycoheterotrophy Odoardoa Sarawak taxonomy Thismia filiformis Thismia pallida

Abstract

Thismia bifida was described in 1967 from a single collection made in 1963 on Bukit Kana, Sarawak, Malaysia, and had not been recollected since, leaving uncertainties about its identity and affinities. We report the rediscovery of T. bifida at its type locality and document several additional populations across Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam. Based on detailed morphological examination of living material and molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial loci, we provide a comprehensive revised description and notes on its phylogenetic relationships. The species exhibits considerable variability in flower size, colouration, length of tepal appendages, length of supraconnective appendages, and shape of stigma lobes. Our findings demonstrate that T. bifida is rather widespread, occurring in both lowland and montane forests. Phylogenetic reconstruction reveals that T. bifida is closely related to T. pallida from Sabah and T. filiformis from Thailand, together forming a well-supported clade (the Thismia filiformis group) within Thismia sect. Thismia subsect. Odoardoa. These observations clarify the taxonomic boundaries between T. bifida, T. filiformis, and T. pallida, and highlight the importance of revisiting historical localities of poorly known mycoheterotrophic taxa.

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How to Cite

Dančák, M., Hroneš, M., Sochor, M., Uvírová, A., Blažek, V.T., Jaafar, S., Yiing, L.C., Pandai, A. & Sukri, R.S. (2026) Rediscovery and revised description of Thismia bifida (Dioscoreales, Thismiaceae). Phytotaxa 763 (3): 235–249. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.763.3.3