Thismia hongkongensis S. S. Mar & R. M. K. Saunders

Figure 1.Flower development in Thismia hongkongensis sp. nov. A, B Root system, with young flowering stalk developing (arrowed). C–H Developing flower, photographed over a 17-day period (10th, 14th, 16th, 19th, 23rd and 27th May, respectively) (S.S. Mar 1, HK). I, J Post-fertilization flower, showing abscission of perianth tube. Photos by S.S. Mar.

Figure 2.Flower structure in Thismia hongkongensis sp. nov. A Mature flower, showing outer tepals (ot), inner tepals (it) and abscission zone (ab) at the base of the perianth tube. B Entire plant (S.S. Mar 1, HK). C Perianth tube with annulus (a), following removal of the proximal face of the tube, exposing pendent stamens with filament (f), thecae (th), connective (c) and lateral appendage (la) (S.S. Mar 2, HK). D Inner face of perianth tube, showing network patterning and putative nectaries (arrowed) (S.S. Mar 2, HK). Scale bars: A, D = 2 mm; B = 5 mm; C = 1 mm. Photos: A, B S.S. Mar; C, D R.M.K. Saunders.

Figure 3.Fruit structure in Thismia hongkongensis sp. nov. A Flower (rear right), immature fruit, shortly after fertilization (left), and mature fruit with exposed seeds (front). B Two fruiting individuals, each with three fruits. C Lateral view of fruiting specimen, illustrating elongated fruit stalk. D Mature fruit with exposed seeds. E Dehydrated fruit. F Rehydrated fruit, after rainfall. Photos by S.S. Mar.

Figure 4.Thismia hongkongensis sp. nov. (S.S. Mar 2, HK). A Entire flower. B Flower with proximal part of perianth tube removed, showing pendent stamens. C Apex of the perianth tube, showing annulus (a) and pendent stamens, with filament (f), thecae (th), lateral appendage (la), and aperture (ap) between filaments. D Longitudinal section through fused carpels. Scale bars: A, B, D = 2 mm; C = 1 mm. Drawings by Caren Pearl Shin.