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Cheilotheca

Genus of flowering plants in the heath family From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Cheilotheca is a small genus of myco-heterotrophic plants in the family Ericaceae. They obtain their nutrients by parasitising fungi in the Russulaceae family.[1] As of 2025, the genus includes four species.[2]

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Etymology

The genus was named by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1876.[3] The name is derived from the Greek word "cheilos", meaning a lip or an edge. The "theca" is a Latin term, meaning covering or sheath. Together they essentially mean "lipped sheath".

Taxonomy

Based on morphological analyses, Cheilotheca has been placed in the Ericaceae subfamily Monotropoideae.[4] The exact placement of Cheilotheca within the Monotropoideae is still unknown, but morphologically the genus most closely resembles Monotropa and Monotropastrum.

List of species

  • Cheilotheca crocea L.Wu & Yan Liu
  • Cheilotheca khasiana Hook.f.
  • Cheilotheca malayana Scort. ex Hook.f.
  • Cheilotheca sleumerana H.Keng

Cheilotheca macrocarpa is sometimes included in this genus as well; it is synonymous with Monotropastrum humile.[5][6]

References

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