Rediscovery of Monotropastrum sciaphilum (Andres) G.D.Wallace in China after 91 Years

Abstract

Monotropastrum sciaphilum (Ericaceae), a mycoheterotrophic member of subfamily Monotropoideae, was rediscovered at its type locality in Yunnan Province, China, 91 years after it was first collected. The type locality is the only locality from which it is known. Field observations in 2007–2010 indicated that inflorescences emerge from the soil between late April and early September. The restricted distribution of M. sciaphilum recommends its listing in the IUCN red book.