Thrixspermum Loureiro
in Flora Cochinchinensis 2:519; 1790

INTRODUCTION: The genus is comprised of about one hundred species distributed from India, S.E. Asia, Malaysia, the Philippines to New Guinea, some Pacific Islands and two species in Australia.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: Joao de Loureiro coined the generic name in reference to the hair-like seeds from the Greek thrix (thread) and sperma (seed).

TYPE SPECIES: Thrixspermum centipedia Loureiro

CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUS: Small to medium-sized epiphytes with long rambling roots they are easily recognised by their flattened raceme which bears the flowers in either two distinct ranks or any direction. Plants keep flowering from the same raceme over a long period of time. The flowers only last a couple of days.

See also Species Photos | Orchid Field Notes

SPECIES LINE DRAWING: Thrixspermum amplexicaule (Bl.) Reichb. f.
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A: habit; B: inflorescence; C: capsule; D: flower, front view; E: column and labellum; F: labellum, side view; G: dorsal sepal; H: lateral sepal; I: petal; J: cut away view of column and labellum; K-M: pollinia; N: anther; O-P: viscid disc plus stipe

SPECIES LINE DRAWING: Thrixspermum warianum Schlechter
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A: plant habit; B: flower; C: dorsal sepal; D: petal; E: lateral sepal; F: labellum, dorsal view; G: labellum, lateral view; H: labellum, cut away view; I: column and stigma; J: column, side view; K: stigma

SPECIES LINE DRAWING: Thrixspermum congestum (Bailey) Dockrill, Howcroft (NH) 744. Ex FRI Garden Lae.
KEY TO ILLUSTRATION: A. Plant habit (to 5 cm scale). B. Flowers (10 mm scale). C. Dorsal sepal. D. Lateral sepal. E. Petal. F. Lateral view of labellum (all 10 mm scale). G. labellum from top (3 mm scale.) H. Labellum and column, cut away view (3 mm scale). I. Labellum, flattened out (3 mm scale). J. Column and anther, lateral view (3 mm scale). Column, with pollen and anther, ventral view (3 mm scale). L. L to R. glandular hairs from lateral lobes and callus of labellum (1 mm scale).

HABITAT: This orchid is found in the rainforests of the tropical lowlands to an altitude of 1,200 m. Not easily detected when not in flower it hugs tree trunks and branches, the roots often wandering for several feet.

CONSERVATION STATUS: not threatened