# Corsia

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For other uses, see [Corsia (disambiguation)](/source/Corsia_(disambiguation)).

***Corsia*** is a little-studied plant [genus](/source/Genus) from the [monocotyledon](/source/Monocotyledon) [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Corsiaceae](/source/Corsiaceae). It was first described in 1877 by Italian naturalist [Odoardo Beccari](/source/Odoardo_Beccari) and contains 25 species, all of which lack [chlorophyll](/source/Chlorophyll) and [parasitize](/source/Parasitic_plant) [fungi](/source/Fungi) for nutrition. All 25 species are distributed through [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea), the [Bismarck Archipelago](/source/Bismarck_Archipelago), the [Solomon Islands](/source/Solomon_Islands) and [Queensland](/source/Queensland), [Australia](/source/Australia).

## Description

In terms of appearance, the species of *Corsia* are quite uniform except for the flowers.[2] [Chromosome counts](/source/Karyology) are known only from two species: *Corsia cornuta* and *C. clypeata*. Both have a [diploid number](/source/Ploidy) (*2n*) of 18.[2][3]

### Habit

*Corsia* exist largely underground;[4] only the seldom-formed flower stems develop above ground. The fine, thread-like and hairless root system is weakly branched and whitish, spreading widely just beneath the surface. Several hairless, unbranched and upright flowering stems sprout from a [rhizome](/source/Rhizome) and are visible above ground. They are usually reddish in color and are 10 to 28 cm (3.9 to 11.0 in) high. The [xylem](/source/Xylem) is woody and not perforated.

### Leaves

The foliage along the stem is evenly distributed, and consists of three to seven broadly ovate pointed leaves. Those on the rhizomes are less developed than the reddish leaves on the flowering stems. Along the stem the leaves grow alternately, at their bases they sheath the stem almost entirely.[4]

### Flowers

The growth of *Corsia* flowers appears to be triggered by combination of rain and drought, usually by a prolonged rainy season followed by several dry days. The [zygomorphic](/source/Zygomorphic), trimerous, nodding flowers grow singly and are terminal on the stems.[4] The [tepals](/source/Tepal) are colored pale red to brownish red, sometimes with a bit of pale yellow and rarely brownish-green.

The six tepals are approximately of the same shape and size, with the exception of the uppermost tepal, termed the [labellum](/source/Labellum_(botany)), which is considerably larger and usually heart-shaped.[4] The tepals of the species of [section](/source/Section_(botany)) *Sessilis* are 4 to 15 mm (0.16 to 0.59 in) long and 0.5 to 2.5 mm (0.020 to 0.098 in) wide. The tepals of the section *Unguiculatis* are 3 to 8.5 mm (0.12 to 0.33 in) long and 1 to 3.5 mm (0.039 to 0.138 in) wide. The labellum is about 5 to 25 mm (0.20 to 0.98 in) long and 4 to 22 mm (0.16 to 0.87 in) wide. The labellum encloses the floral bud until its opening, thereby protecting immature floral parts. The labellum is usually simple, but is occasionally bifurcated at the tip of the midrib.

The labellum of *Corsia* is similar in appearance to the labellum of some [orchids](/source/Orchidaceae), but is not [homologous](/source/Homology_(biology)) to them;[5] in orchids the labellum is formed from an inner tepal (petal), but in Corsiaceae it forms from an outer tepal (sepal). In *Corsia*, unlike the orchids, all six stamens are fertile.[5]

### Fruit and seeds

After pollination (possibly by flies), the peduncles extend and a 3.5 cm (1.4 in) long and slender cylindrical yellowish brown capsule fruit forms. The small dust-like seeds are about 1 to 3.2 mm (0.039 to 0.126 in) long, 0.3 mm (0.012 in) thick and colored pale to dark brown. The seed coat tightly encloses the endosperm and its surface is finely grooved longitudinally.[6] Although the native habitat of *Corsia* is relatively calm, [seed dispersal](/source/Seed_dispersal) is presumed to be facilitated by wind ([anemochory](/source/Anemochory)).[3]

## Distribution and habitat

Species of *Corsia* are generally found in [floodplains](/source/Floodplain) and mountain forests at altitudes of 400 to 2,700 m (1,300 to 8,900 ft) above sea level. They grow in [humus](/source/Humus)-rich soils in shaded areas of high [humidity](/source/Humidity) among decaying leaves.[4]

The [center of diversity](/source/Center_of_diversity) for the genus is [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea). All species are [endemic](/source/Endemic) to New Guinea (including the [Bismarck Archipelago](/source/Bismarck_Archipelago)), the [Solomon Islands](/source/Solomon_Islands), and [Australia](/source/Australia).[7]

## Ecology

Like other members of [Corsiaceae](/source/Corsiaceae), *Corsia* species lack [chlorophyll](/source/Chlorophyll) and are thus incapable of [photosynthesis](/source/Photosynthesis). Instead, they are [myco-heterotrophs](/source/Myco-heterotrophy), relying exclusively on [parasitizing](/source/Parasitic_plant) [arbuscular mycorrhizal](/source/Arbuscular_mycorrhiza) [fungi](/source/Fungi) for nutrition.[8] Myco-heterotrophs were once mistakenly thought to be [saprotrophic](/source/Saprotroph) plants. It is now known that they do not obtain nourishment directly from decaying organic matter, instead they digest the [hyphae](/source/Hyphae) of saprotrophic fungi with enzymes and absorb the resulting nutrients.[9]

The [host species](/source/Host_(biology)) of *Corsia*, and whether *Corsia* are even [host specific](/source/Host_specific), remains unknown. *Corsia* are sometimes found growing in association with other myco-heterotrophic plants like *[Burmannia](/source/Burmannia_(plant))*, *[Sciaphila](/source/Sciaphila)*, and *[Cotylanthera tenuis](/source/Cotylanthera_tenuis)*.[citation needed]

## Taxonomy

*Corsia* is classified under the family [Corsiaceae](/source/Corsiaceae) of the order [Liliales](/source/Liliales). It is one of the three genera currently classified under Corsiaceae, the other two being *[Corsiopsis](/source/Corsiopsis)* of [China](/source/China) and *[Arachnitis](/source/Arachnitis)* of [South America](/source/South_America).[9] It differs from the latter two in having several shoots arising from creeping rhizomes.[10]

*Corsia* was first described in 1877 by the [Italian](/source/Italian_people) naturalist [Odoardo Beccari](/source/Odoardo_Beccari) from specimens from [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea). He named it after the Marquis [Bardo Corsi Salviati](/source/Bardo_Corsi_Salviati). It was classified under [Burmanniaceae](/source/Burmanniaceae) by the [English](/source/English_people) botanist [George Bentham](/source/George_Bentham) in 1883 and grouped together with orchids (family [Orchidaceae](/source/Orchidaceae)).[11]

In 1938, [Fredrik Pieter Jonker](/source/Fredrik_Pieter_Jonker) separated *Arachnitis* and *Corsia* from Burmanniaceae based on their strongly [zygomorphic](/source/Zygomorphic) floral characteristics. Kores *et al.* (1978) also separated *Corsia* from Burmanniaceae after comparing the chromosome numbers of *C. cornuta* and *C. clypeata* (*2n* = 18) with the rest of Burmanniaceae (*2n*=32 to 136). Dahlgren & Clifford (1982) tentatively reclassified Corsiaceae as closer to lilies (order [Liliales](/source/Liliales)) than to orchids. Cribb *et al.* (1995) noted the significant differences between *Corsia* and the only other member of Corsiaceae then - *Arachnitis*. In 1996, Ibisch *et al.* challenged the [monophyly](/source/Monophyly) of Corsiaceae, positing that *Arachnitis* may actually be more closely related to Orchidaceae than *Corsia* and recommended the separation of the former into its own family, Arachnitaceae.[11][12]

*Corsiopsis* was discovered in 1999 by Zhang *et al.* and became the third genus included in the family Corsiaceae. Zhang also remarked that *Corsiopsis* seem to be more closely related to *Corsia* than to *Arachnitis*. Based on [phylogenetic](/source/Phylogenetic) studies and reexamination of previous [morphological](/source/Plant_morphology) studies, Neyland & Hennigan (2003) concluded that *Corsia* is not closely related to *Arachnitis*. The former probably has closer affinities with [Campynemataceae](/source/Campynemataceae) of Liliales, while the latter may be more closely related to *[Thismia](/source/Thismia)* and/or *Burmannia* of [Dioscoreales](/source/Dioscoreales).[9][11][13] However, Chase *et al.* (2006) concluded that *Arachnitis* falls within Liliales while Rudall & Eastman (2002) puts *Corsia* closer to either Campynemataceae or *Thismia*. As such, the taxonomic placement of *Corsia* and Corsiaceae remains problematic though they have been tentatively included in Liliales.[14]

*Corsia* contains two sections, *Unguiculatis* and *Sessilis*, with 25 species. They are listed below along with their distribution ranges:[7][15][16][17]

**Section** *Unguiculatis* P.Royen

- *[Corsia acuminata](/source/Corsia_acuminata)* L.O.Williams (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia cornuta](/source/Corsia_cornuta)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia purpurata](/source/Corsia_purpurata)* L.O.Williams (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia triceratops](/source/Corsia_triceratops)* P.Royen ([Yapen](/source/Yapen) Island)
- *[Corsia unguiculata](/source/Corsia_unguiculata)* Schltr. (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia wiakabui](/source/Corsia_wiakabui)* (W.N.Takeuchi & Pipoly) D.L.Jones & B.Gray (southern [New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island)), Papua New Guinea)

**Section** *Sessilis* P.Royen

- *[Corsia arfakensis](/source/Corsia_arfakensis)* Gibbs (Western New Guinea, including Yapen Island)
- *[Corsia boridiensis](/source/Corsia_boridiensis)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia brassii](/source/Corsia_brassii)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia clypeata](/source/Corsia_clypeata)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia cordata](/source/Corsia_cordata)* Schltr. (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia crenata](/source/Corsia_crenata)* J.J.Sm. (Indonesia)
- *[Corsia cyclopensis](/source/Corsia_cyclopensis)*P.Royen (Papua New Guinea and Indonesia)
- *[Corsia dispar](/source/Corsia_dispar)* D.L.Jones & B.Gray (Herberton Range in Queensland, Australia)
- *[Corsia haianjensis](/source/Corsia_haianjensis)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands)
- *[Corsia huonensis](/source/Corsia_huonensis)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia lamellata](/source/Corsia_lamellata)* Schltr. (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia merimantaensis](/source/Corsia_merimantaensis)* P.Royen (New Guinea)
- *[Corsia ornata](/source/Corsia_ornata)* Becc. (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia papuana](/source/Corsia_papuana)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia pyramidata](/source/Corsia_pyramidata)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands)
- *[Corsia resiensis](/source/Corsia_resiensis)* P.Royen (Western New Guinea)
- *[Corsia torricellensis](/source/Corsia_torricellensis)* Schltr. (Northeast Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia viridopurpurea](/source/Corsia_viridopurpurea)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)
- *[Corsia wubungu](/source/Corsia_wubungu)* P.Royen (Papua New Guinea)

## See also

- [List of myco-heterotrophic genera](/source/List_of_myco-heterotrophic_genera)

## References

1. O. Beccari (1878). *Malesia, raccolta d'osservazioni lese e papuano*. Vol. 1. p. 238.

1. Paul Kores, David A. White, Leonard B. Thien: *Chromosomes of Corsia (Corsiaceae)*, American Journal of Botany, Vol. 65, No. 5 (May - Jun., 1978), Page. 584-585, ISSN [0002-9122](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0002-9122)

1. C. Neinhuis, P. Ibisch: *Corsiaceae*, in: K. Kubitzki (Hrsg.): *The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Vol. 3, Lilianae*, p. 200, 1998, ISBN 3-540-64060-6

1. Dahlgren, R. M. T.; Clifford, H. T.; Yeo, P. F. (1985). [*The Families of the Monocotyledons*](https://archive.org/details/familiesmonocoty00dahl). Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp. [215](https://archive.org/details/familiesmonocoty00dahl/page/n114)–216, 219–220. ISBN 978-3-540-13655-2.

1. P.J. Rudall & A. Eastman (2002). "The questionable affinities of *Corsia* (Corsiaceae): evidence from floral anatomy and pollen morphology". *Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society*. **138** (3): 315–324. [doi:10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00024.x](https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00024.x)

1. J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz: *Family Guide for Fruits and Seeds*, Vers. 1.0, 2006, Retrieved 26 March 2007, [Online version](http://nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/OnlineResources/SeedsFruits/rptSeedsFruitsFamData.cfm?thisFamily=Corsiaceae) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071007001446/http://nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/OnlineResources/SeedsFruits/rptSeedsFruitsFamData.cfm?thisFamily=Corsiaceae) 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine

1. R. Govaerts (2011). ["World Checklist of Corsiaceae"](http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/). Retrieved 23 November 2011.

1. Christopher G. Morris (1992). [*Academic Press dictionary of science and technology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=nauWlPTBcjIC&q=Corsiaceae&pg=PA529). Gulf Professional Publishing. p. 529. ISBN 978-0-12-200400-1.

1. Laura S. Domínguez & Alicia Sérsic (2004). ["The southernmost myco-heterotrophic plant, *Arachnitis uniflora*: root morphology and anatomy"](http://www.mycologia.org/content/96/5/1143.full.pdf+html). *Mycologia*. **96** (5): 1143–1151. [doi:10.2307/3762096](https://doi.org/10.2307/3762096). [hdl:11336/36710](https://hdl.handle.net/11336/36710). [JSTOR 3762096](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3762096). [PMID 21148933](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21148933)

1. Dian-Xiang Zhang (2000). ["Addition to the *Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae*: the family Corsiaceae"](http://www.plantsystematics.com/qikan/manage/wenzhang/f990092.pdf) (in Chinese). *Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica*. **38** (6): 578–581.

1. Ray Neyland & Melissa Hennigan (2003). "A phylogenetic analysis of large-subunit (26S) ribosome DNA sequences suggests that the Corsiaceae are polyphyletic". *New Zealand Journal of Botany*. **41** (1): 1–11. [Bibcode:2003NZJB...41....1N](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003NZJB...41....1N). [doi:10.1080/0028825X.2003.9512828](https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2003.9512828). [S2CID 84392170](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:84392170)

1. Pierre L. Ibisch; Christoph Neinhuis; Patricia Rojas N. (1996). ["On the biology, biogeography, and taxonomy of *Arachnitis* Phil. nom. cons. (Corsiaceae) in respect to a new record from Bolivia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120426162953/http://www.bgbm.org/willdenowia/w-pdf/w26Ibisch+al.pdf). *Willdenowia*. **26** (1–2): 321–332. [doi:10.3372/wi.26.2616](https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.26.2616). [ISSN 0511-9618](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0511-9618). [S2CID 4002791](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:4002791). Archived from [the original](http://www.bgbm.org/willdenowia/w-pdf/w26Ibisch+al.pdf) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-30.

1. P. F. Stevens (2001 onwards). "[Liliales](http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/lilialesweb.htm#Corsiaceae)". *Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008*. Retrieved 30 December 2011.

1. Michael F. Fay; Mark W. Chase; Nina Rønsted; Dion S. Devey; Yohan Pillon; J. Chris Pires; Gitte Petersen; Ole Seberg; Jerrold I. Davis (2006). ["Phylogenetics of Liliales: summarized evidence from combined analyses of five plastid and one mitochondrial loci"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120426081800/http://ninaronsted.dk/page1/files/page1_6.pdf). *Aliso*. **22**: 559–565. Archived from [the original](http://ninaronsted.dk/page1/files/page1_6.pdf) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-30.

1. ["*Corsia*"](http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Corsiaceae/Corsia/). The Plant List Version 1.0. 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

1. Barry J. Conn; Roy Banla; Linn Linn Lee. ["Plants of Papua New Guinea"](http://www.pngplants.org). Papua New Guinea National Herbarium and the National Herbarium of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

1. ["*Corsia*"](http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Corsia). *[Australian Plant Name Index](/source/Australian_Plant_Name_Index) (APNI), IBIS database*. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

## Bibliography

- P. Van Royen:*Sertulum Papuanum 17th Corsiaceae of New Guinea and surrounding areas* in: Webbia 27: pp. 223–255, 1972, ISSN [0083-7792](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0083-7792)
- Traudel Rübsamen: *Morphologische, embryologische und systematische Untersuchungen an Burmanniaceae und Corsiaceae (Mit Ausblick auf die Orchidaceae-Apostasioideae)* [Morphological, embryological and systematic studies of Burmanniaceae and Corsiaceae (With view on the Orchidaceae-Apostasioideae)], 1986, ISBN 3-443-64004-4
- Karl Schumann, Karl Lauterbach: *Nachträge zur Flora der deutschen Schutzgebiete in der Südsee mit Ausschluss Samoa's und der Karolinen* [Supplements to Flora of the German protectorates in the Pacific to the exclusion of Samoa's and the Carolinas], Leipzig, 1905, [Online version](http://www.botanicus.org/title.aspx?bibid=b11964832)
- R. Schlechter: *Neue Corsiaceae Papuasiens* [New Papuan Corsiaceae Parisiens], in: Botanical yearbooks for systematics, plant geography and plant history, Vol. 49, pp. 109–112, 1913, Stuttgart, [Online version](http://www.botanicus.org/page/218926)
- [Dian-Xiang Zhang](/source/Dian-Xiang_Zhang), Richard M. K. Saunders, Chi-Ming Hu: *Corsiopsis chinensis gen. et sp. nov. (Corsiaceae): First Record of the Family in Asia*, in: Systematic Botany, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1999), S. 311-314, ([Abstract Online](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2419691))
- Merckx, Vincent S. F. T.; Freudenstein, John V.; Kissling, Jonathan et al. (2013). ["Taxonomy and Classification"](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-5209-6). *Mycoheterotrophy: the biology of plants living on fungi*. New York: [Springer Science+Business Media](/source/Springer_Science%2BBusiness_Media). pp. 19–101. [doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-5209-6](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5209-6). ISBN 978-1-4614-5208-9. [S2CID 259078590](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:259078590)

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