Plagiostachys Ridl.
J. Straits Branch R. Asiat. Soc. 32: 151 (1899); R.M. Sm., Notes R. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 42: 265-272 (1985).
Description:
Herbs with the rhizome on or just below the ground. Inflorescence congested, terminal on a leafy shoot but apparently lateral, breaking through the leaf sheaths, often mucilaginous; bracts absent or rudimentary, flowers singly on the rachis; bracteole usually tubular; flowers yellow, white, orange or red; calyx tubular or funnel-shaped, 3-dentate, split down 1 side; corolla tube shorter than calyx; lateral staminodes small, subulate or swollen; labellum slightly longer than petals, obovate, margin crenulate; filament short, broad, anther with a small crest; ovary 3-locular. Capsules globose to ellipsoid, indehiscent, more or less united in a syncarp; seeds with aril. 2n = 98. (From Kubitzki, et al., p. 490)
Geographical Distribution:
Found in W Malaysia through out the Malesian region, a single representative in S China.
Phylogeny and Classification:
The species fall into 2 groups, 1 with mucilaginous inflorescence, the other without. This division is accompanied by morphological differences.
Taxonomic Diversity:
Comprises about 20 species.
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