''Microsaccus'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

These miniature epiphytes produce laterally flattened, distichously arranged leaves on thin stems.Teoh, E.S. (2021). ''Microsaccus'' Bl. In: Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 2 (G - P). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80428-2_18

Generative characteristics

The usually two-flowered inflorescences are short.Seidenfaden, G., Wood, J., & Holttum, R. (1992)
"The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore."
Olsen & Olsen. The spurred, minuscule flowers have a simple labellum. The flowers have four pollinia.Zou, L. H., Huang, J. X., Zhang, G. Q., Liu, Z. J., & Zhuang, X. Y. (2015)
"A molecular phylogeny of Aeridinae (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) inferred from multiple nuclear and chloroplast regions."
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 85, 247–254. Within the fruits there are pale brown to whitish trichomes with an oblong-elliptic basal zone. They have perforations in the basal region.

Etymology

The generic name ''Microsaccus'' is composed of the Greek words μικρός (mikrós) meaning small and saccus meaning sack, which refers to the labellum.Puccio, P. (n.d.). ''Microsaccus truncatus''. Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/microsaccus-truncatus/

Ecology

''Microsaccus truncatus'' is known to grow epiphytically in montane forest at 1200 m above sea level. ''Microsaccus griffithii '' occurs in forests at elevations of 500–2770 m above sea level.

Physiology

''Microsaccus'' uses

CAM photosynthesis Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions that allows a plant to photosynthesize during the day, but only exchange gases at night. ...

.''Microsaccus griffithii''. (n.d.). Hortus Orchis. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.hortusorchis.org/en/botanical-orchids/118-m/1483-microsaccus-brevifolius.html

Taxonomy

Species

The genus contains 13 accepted species: #'' Microsaccus affinis'' J.J.Sm. - Java #'' Microsaccus albovirescens'' J.J.Sm. - Sumatra #'' Microsaccus ampullaceus'' J.J.Sm. - Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia #'' Microsaccus borneensis'' J.J.Sm. - Borneo #'' Microsaccus canaliculatus'' J.J.Sm. - Sumatra #'' Microsaccus dempoensis'' J.J.Sm. - Sumatra #'' Microsaccus griffithii'' (C.S.P.Parish & Rchb.f.) Seidenf. - Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Malaysia, Java, Sumatra, Philippines #'' Microsaccus javensis'' Blume - Malaysia, Java #'' Microsaccus mihoae'' P.O'Byrne & Gokusing - Borneo #'' Microsaccus ramosus'' J.J.Sm. - Java #'' Microsaccus sumatranus'' J.J.Sm. - Malaysia, Sumatra #''

Microsaccus truncatus ''Microsaccus'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia. Description Vegetative characteristics These miniature epiphytes produce laterally flattened, distichously arranged leaves on thi ...

'' Carr - Malaysia #'' Microsaccus wenzelii'' Ames - Philippines

Phylogeny

It is closely related to the genus '' Jejewoodia ''. One species, namely ''Jejewoodia longicalcarata'' (Ames & C.Schweinf.) J.J.Wood used to be ''Microsaccus longicalcaratus'' Ames & C.Schweinf. It has been suggested to reunite these two genera, due to their similar appearance. Another closely related genus is '' Adenocos'', which does not have a spur, unlike the former two genera.Pridgeon, A., Cribb, P., Chase, M., & Rasmussen, F. (2014)
"Genera Orchidacearum Volume 6: Epidendroideae (Part 3)."
pp. 118, 204, 212. OUP Oxford.

Horticulture

''Microsaccus'' can be cultivated under moist conditions with a lot of air movement, and intermediate temperatures. The plants should be placed in a semi-shaded position. It is rarely cultivated.

References

External links

* Vandeae genera Aeridinae Flora of Vietnam Flora of Thailand Flora of Myanmar Flora of the Philippines Flora of Cambodia Flora of Borneo Orchids of Vietnam Orchids of Thailand Orchids of Myanmar Orchids of the Philippines Orchids of Cambodia Orchids of Borneo {{Vandeae-stub