Cheilotheca is a small genus of myco-heterotrophic plants in the family Ericaceae. They obtain their nutrients by parasitising fungi in the Russulaceae family. As of 2025, the genus includes four species.
Etymology The genus was named by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1876.Bentham, G., Hooker, J.D. (1876) Genera Plantarum Vol. 2. Reeve & Co., London. The name is derived from the Greek word "cheilos", meaning a lip or an edge. The "theca" is a Latin term, meaning covering or sheath. Together they essentially mean "lipped sheath".
Taxonomy Based on morphological analyses, Cheilotheca has been placed in the Ericaceae subfamily Monotropoideae.Kron, K.A., Judd, W.S., Stevens, P.F., Crayn, D.M., Anderberg, A.A., Gadek, P.A., Quinn, C.J., Luteyn, J.L. 2002. Phylogenetic classification of Ericaceae: molecular and morphological evidence. Botanical Review 68: 335-423. The exact placement of Cheilotheca within the Monotropoideae is still unknown, but morphologically the genus most closely resembles Monotropa and Monotropastrum.
List of species Cheilotheca crocea L.Wu & Yan Liu Cheilotheca khasiana Hook.f. Cheilotheca malayana Scort. ex Hook.f. Cheilotheca sleumerana H.Keng
Cheilotheca macrocarpa is sometimes included in this genus as well; it is synonymous with Monotropastrum humile.
References
External links
Cheilotheca at The Plant List (archived) Cheilotheca at the Encyclopedia of Life (archived) Cheilotheca at the Flora of Taiwan Checklist (archived) Cheilotheca at Plants of the World Online