Full name and orig. publication: Micraeschynanthus Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 5, suppl.: 324 (Aug. 1925).
Etymology: Composed of the Greek μικσος, micros = small, and the generic name Aeschynanthus, referring to the small, Aeschynanthus-like flowers.
Synonyms: -
Infrafamilial position: Didymocarpoid Gesneriaceae - "Advanced Asiatic and Malesian genera" (Weber 2004).
Description: Ridley (1925: 324): "Epiphyte, creeping. Leaves opposite, sub-sessile, fleshy, glabrous, round, ovate, acute. Flowers very small, 3 or 4 in very short axillary inflorescences. Sepals 5, lanceolate acuminate, glandular hairy. Corolla shorter, tube very short, lobes 5, rounded. Stamens 4, filaments very short, attached to tube; anthers large, elliptic. Ovary cylindric, narrowed slightly above; stigma discoid with a transverse furrow. Fruit unknown".
Chromosome number: Unknown.
Type and only (doubtful) species: Micraeschynanthus dischidioides Ridl.
Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist.
Distribution: Malay Peninsula (Pahang: G. Tahan).
Ecology: Epiphyte on trees.
Notes: The genus is most doubtful. The only species is known from a single specimen and there are good reasons to believe that Ridley based his description simply on an abnormally developed flower of a species of Aeschynanthus (Burtt 1968).
Selected references: Burtt, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 28: 222 (1968), notes.
Bibliography: See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005. Bibliography of the Gesneriaceae. 2nd edition: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Bibliography.
last modified: 2007-01-05