Genus of orchids
Thelasis, commonly known as fly orchids, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are usually epiphytes, sometimes lithophytes or rarely terrestrials. Some species have pseudobulbs with up to three leaves, whilst others have several leaves in two ranks. A large number of small, white or greenish yellow flowers are borne on a thin, arching flowering stem. There are about thirty species, distributed from tropical and subtropical Asia to the southwest Pacific.
Description.
Plants in the genus "Thelasis" are mostly epiphytic or lithophytic, rarely terrestrial sympodial herbs with thin roots. They often have small pseudobulbs with up to three leaves but sometimes have flattened stems with several leaves in two ranks. Many small white or greenish yellow flowers are crowded on a thin arching flowering stem. The flowers are resupinate, tube-shaped near the base with sepals and petals free from and similar to each other although with the petals usually shorter and narrower. The labellum is stiffly attached to the base of the column and lacks lobes.
Taxonomy and naming.
The genus "Thelasis" was first formally described in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume who published the description in "Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië ". The name "Thelasis" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "thelazo" meaning "suckle" or "nurse", possibly referring to a small nipple-like structure on the column.
Species list.
The following is a list of species of "Thelasis" accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families as at January 2019:
Distribution.
Orchids in the genus "Thelasis" are found in China, Taiwan, the Indian Subcontinent, the Andaman Islands, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Peninsular Malaysia, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Christmas Island, the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Queensland (Australia) and Samoa.
References.
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