Once upon a time, in a hidden rainforest, there lived the Gymnosiphon plant. This intriguing plant had a unique survival technique – it mimicked the scent of decaying flesh to attract flies for pollination. The Gymnosiphon became the talk of the botanical world due to its peculiar strategy. Researchers discovered that it not only fooled flies but also carnivorous plants which were lured by the scent. These alliances benefited both sides, as the carnivorous plants received extra nutrients while the Gymnosiphon plant received protection. It was a remarkable example of nature’s ingenious and unexpected collaborations.
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Short Description
Gymnosiphon (yellowseed) is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants from the yam order. Like most of the other members of the family in which the plant is placed (Burmanniaceae), Gymnosiphon is entirely myco-heterotrophic genus that does not contain chlorophyll and respectively does not perform photosynthesis.
Gymnosiphon is distributed across the moist, tropical regions of Asia, America and Africa. The plant has very small size and thin stems. Leaves are rudimentary and with appearance like scales or bracts. Its flowers are white in color, pale and solitary or sometimes collected in tiny inflorescences of few depending on the species. They are also actinomorphic with three larger outer tepals and three more inner and smaller ones.
Phylogenetically Gymnosiphon is placed in the clade of Burmanniaceae sensu stricto.
Species
Gymnosiphon affinis – New Guinea
Gymnosiphon afro-orientalis – SC Africa
Gymnosiphon aphyllus – Taiwan, SE Asia, New Guinea, Micronesia
Gymnosiphon bekensis – C Africa
Gymnosiphon brachycephalus – Panama, NW S America
Gymnosiphon breviflorus – Costa Rica, Panama, N South America
Gymnosiphon capitatus – Guyana, NW Brazil
Gymnosiphon constrictus – Gabon
Gymnosiphon cymosus – N South America
Gymnosiphon danguyanus – Tanzania, Madagascar
Gymnosiphon divaricatus – S Mexico, Trinidad, C + S America
Gymnosiphon fimbriatus – N South America
Gymnosiphon guianensis – Guyana, Suriname
Gymnosiphon longistylus – C + W Africa
Gymnosiphon marieae – Madagascar
Gymnosiphon minahassae – Sulawesi
Gymnosiphon minutus – Costa Rica, N South America
Gymnosiphon neglectus – Java
Gymnosiphon niveus – West Indies
Gymnosiphon okamotoi – Palau in Micronesia
Gymnosiphon oliganthus – NE Papua New Guinea
Gymnosiphon panamensis – from Veracruz to Panama
Gymnosiphon papuanus – New Guinea, Sulawesi, Palau
Gymnosiphon pauciflorus – New Guinea
Gymnosiphon recurvatus – Guyana
Gymnosiphon samoritoureanus – Guinea, Liberia
Gymnosiphon sphaerocarpus – Pernambuco, West Indies
Gymnosiphon suaveolens – Mexico, C + S America
Gymnosiphon tenellus – Jamaica, C America, NW S America
Gymnosiphon usambaricus – Kenya, Tanzania
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