Didymoplexis, commonly known as crystal orchids[2] or as 双唇兰属 (shuang chun lan shu),[3] is a genus of terrestrial leafless orchids in the family Orchidaceae, about twenty species of which have been described. Orchids in this genus have swollen, fleshy rhizomes and thin, pale, upright fleshy flowering stems with resupinate, bell-shaped white or pale yellowish brown flowers. They are native to Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, Australia and various islands of the Pacific.
Description
Orchids in the genus Didymoplexis are small, leafless, terrestrial, mycotrophicherbs with a swollen, fleshy rhizome. The flowering stem is thin, upright and fleshy with a few scale-like bracts fleshy and one to a few flowers. The flowers are resupinate, white or pale yellowish brown and often last for less than a day. The sepals and petals are joined at the base to form a short, bell-shaped tube with the tips spreading widely. The labellum is relatively broad and has a band of calli along its midline.[2][3][4][5][6]
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Didymoplexis was first formally described in 1843 by William Griffith and the description was published in the Calcutta Journal of Natural History.[7][8] The name Didymoplexis is derived from the Ancient Greekdidymos meaning "double" or "twin"[9]: 823 and plexis meaning "twine", "twist" or "weave" [9]: 851 referring to the interlocking calli on the labellum.[6]
^ abJones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 368. ISBN1877069124.
^ abcChen, Xinqi; Gale, Stephen W.; Cribb, Phillip J. "Gastrodia". Flora of China. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
