Burmannia is a genus of flowering plants long thought of as related to orchids, although more recent studies suggest closer affinities with either the Dioscoreales or the Melanthiales.[3][4][5] The plants are herbs, partially autotrophic (photosynthetic) but also partially parasitic on soil fungi.
Burmannia | |
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Burmannia disticha | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Dioscoreales |
Family: | Burmanniaceae |
Genus: | Burmannia L. |
Type species | |
Burmannia disticha | |
Species | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Burmannia is native to tropical and subtropical parts of Africa, eastern Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere. Three are regarded as native to the US:[1][6][7][8][9]
The name Burmannia is a taxonomic patronym honoring the Dutch botanist Johannes Burman (1706 - 1779).[2]
Burmannia comprises the following species.[1]