42. Farmeria Willis
Farmeria Willis ex J. D. Hooker, in Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 5: 386 (1900).
Maferria C. Cusset (1992).
Roots thread-like, cylindrical or somewhat flattened, 1--2 (--4) mm wide, up to 25 mm long, branched, forming entangled mats, closely attached to rocks by holdfasts associated with root-borne shoots; stems very short, simple, arising along lateral margins of roots, some remaining embedded in root with only the leaves emerging, the others just emerging and bearing flowers. Leaves scattered in groups along edge of root or 1, 2 or rarely 3 pairs on flowering stems, linear, 2--5 mm long, with thread- or band-like, caducous tips. Spathellas ovoid, splitting at tip. Flowers sessile, remaining within opened spathella, only anthers and stigmas emerging; tepals 2, linear to subulate, borne one each side of stamen filament; stamen 1; filament slightly flattened laterally, exceeding ovary and stigmas; pollen in dyads. Capsules sessile or with stalk up to 1 mm long, obliquely ovoid or subglobose, ± 0.7 mm long, valves smooth or with 3 or 5 ribs, very unequal, in F. metzgerioides indehiscent, with 1 loculus aborting and the other with 1 or rarely 2 seeds, or in F. indica dehiscent or indehiscent, with (4--) 8 (--18) seeds; stigmas linear, unequal. Two spp., F. indica Willis, SW India and F. metzgerioides (Trimen) Willis, Sri Lanka, S India. |
