固有種臺灣水玉杯(Thismia taiwanensis S.Z. Yang, R.M.K. Saunders & C.J. Hsu)目前僅分布於高雄縣桃源鄉,屬玉山國家公園管理處轄區。臺灣水玉杯的微生育地多在岩石邊淺層,生長於暖溫帶櫟林下的枯枝落葉層之中。由於過去植株個體少,不易觀察其生長狀況。本研究於2008年4月至12月期間共觀察32株臺灣水玉杯,記錄其萌芽、開花至結果等階段生長情形。臺灣水玉杯從6月芽苞期至11月結果期約需6個月,植株個體生長變化頗大,芽苞期生長緩慢,約需1個月左右,芽苞高度約為2-9 mm。花莖期約1個月,花莖增高約1-8 mm。開花期約1.5個月,植株高度增加約11-44 mm。結果期約2.5個月,此期間果柄高度增加約80-88 mm。
The endemic species, Thismia taiwanensis, was only collected in Yunshan National Park located in Taoyuan Township, Kaohsiung County. The microhabitat of this rare species was amongst leaf litter nearby the rock stone in a warm temperate Fagaceae forest. Since insufficient materials had been collected from the past, we still didn't understand its development condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology of Thismia taiwanensis at different life stages from April to December 2008. Preliminary results from 32 individuals showed that the development period of T. taiwanensis from bud to fruit stage was about 6 months, from June to November. The growth morphology among individuals were variable. The individual height of bud stage was about 2-9 mm, and the flower-stem stage lasted about one month with the height increased 1-8 mm long. The flowering stage was about 1.5 months with the height of body increased about 11-44 mm long. The fruiting stage was about 2.5 months. The fruit peduncle was elongated and thick with the height increased about 80-88 mm.