Classification: Monocots, Dioscoreales
Genera: Burmannia, Gymnosiphon, Apteria, Dictyostega, Campylosiphon, Hexapterella, Miersiella, Marthella
Diversity: Burmanniaceae consist of eight genera and ca. 96 species. With respectively 56 and 32 species Burmannia and Gymnosiphon are the largest genera. The other genera comprise one or two species only. All species, except for 37 species of Burmannia, are fully mycoheterotrophic.
Distribution and habitat: Burmanniaceae have a pantropical distribution. The distributions of Apteria and a few Burmannia species extend into the subtropics. Fully mycoheterotrophic Burmanniaceae species mainly occur in ever- green forest, but Apteria sometimes grows in wet savannas. Most species grow at low elevations, but some species occur at 2,000 m and above. Chlorophyllous Burmannia species prefer wet savannas or swamps, or grow occasionally in gallery or savanna forests.
Pictures
Miersiella umbellata (Burmanniaceae) – Atlantic forest in Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon divaricatus (Burmanniaceae) – Atlantic forest in Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon divaricatus (Burmanniaceae) – Atlantic forest in Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon divaricatus (Burmanniaceae) – Fruiting specimens in Atlantic forest in Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia australis (Burmanniaceae) – River margin in Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia australis (Burmanniaceae) – River margin in Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Apteria aphylla (Burmanniaceae) – River margin in Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Apteria aphylla (Burmanniaceae) – River margin in Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon divaricatus (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Apteria aphylla (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Hexapterella gentianoides (Burmanniaceae) – Montagne des Singes, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Hexapterella gentianoides (Burmanniaceae) – Montagne des Singes, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia longifolia (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia longifolia (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia longifolia (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia lutescens (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia lutescens (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon aphyllus (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Hexapterella gentianoides (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Dictyostega orobanchoides (Burmanniaceae) and Voyria aphylla (Gentianaceae) – Savane Roche Virginie, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Campylosiphon purpurascens (Burmanniaceae) – Savane Roche Virginie, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia hexaptera (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kupe, Cameroon. French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Campylosiphon congestus (Burmanniaceae) – Mount Kupe, Cameroon. French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Hexapterella gentianoides (Burmanniaceae) – Iwokrama Forest, Guyana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon longistylus (Burmanniaceae). Douala-Edea, Cameroon. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon aff. divaricatus (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon sp. (Burmanniaceae) – Paracou, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon aff. divaricatus (Burmanniaceae) – Trésor, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon capitatus (Burmanniaceae) – Savane-Roche Virginie, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon aff. bekensis (Burmanniaceae) – Cameroon. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Gymnosiphon aff. bekensis (Burmanniaceae) – Cameroon. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia bicolor (Burmanniaceae) – Guyana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia bicolor (Burmanniaceae), Guyana, V. Merckx
Hexapterella gentianoides (Burmanniaceae) – Guyana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia bicolor (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia bicolor (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia capitata (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia capitata (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Hexapterella gentianoides (Burmanniaceae) – Guyana, Photo by Vincent Merckx
Dictyostega orobanchoides (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Campylosiphon purpurascens (Burmanniaceae) – Savane-Roche Virginia, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia capitata (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia capitata (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia bicolor (Burmanniaceae) – Guyana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Burmannia capitata (Burmanniaceae) – French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
Apteria aphylla (Burmanniaceae) – Savane-Roche Virginia, French Guiana. Photo by Vincent Merckx
mycoheterotrophy 