Aeranthes

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Aeranthes
Aeranthes ramosa, illustration

Aeranthes ramosa , illustration

Systematics
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Orchids (orchidaceae)
Subfamily : Epidendroideae
Tribe : Vandeae
Sub tribus : Angraecinae
Genre : Aeranthes
Scientific name
Aeranthes
Lindl.

The genus Aeranthes from the family of the orchid (Orchidaceae) consists of about 44 types . The plants usually grow epiphytically , they are mainly found in Madagascar. Occasionally they are cultivated as ornamental plants, they produce predominantly greenish colored flowers .

description

The Aeranthes species have a monopodial , rarely branched stem axis . This is strongly compressed, the distances between the internodes are short. In the lower area there are long aerial roots covered by velamen . The leaves sit in two rows on the shoot and are separated from this by a separating fabric. The leaf base encompasses the shoot in such a way that it is completely covered by the leaf bases. They unfold conduplicate , the midrib stands out clearly. The shape of the leaves ranges from linear to oblong-oval. The tip of the leaf is retracted so that two rounded lobes that are clearly unequal in size are created.

The resupinated flowers stand individually or in few groups together on long, thin, mostly drooping racemose or slightly branched inflorescences . There is often a large distance between the individual flowers of an inflorescence, and often they bloom one after the other. Often the petals are thin and translucent. The predominant flower color is green, from dark green to greenish-white, some species also bloom yellowish or white. The petals are not fused together, they often end in elongated corners. The column is extended beyond the point of attachment on the ovary into a column foot, which forms the spur. The lateral sepals start above the spur entrance at the base of the column, the unlapped lip arises from the lower front end of the spur. The column bears the slightly sunken stigma on the underside and the stamen at the end . The separating tissue between the stigma and the stamen (rostellum) consists of three parts, with the two lateral teeth being longer than the middle lap. The two pollinia are each connected by a small stalk with an adhesive disc (Viscidium) each.

distribution

The species of the genus Aeranthes are mainly found in Madagascar. They are also found in the Comoros , Réunion and Mauritius . Aeranthes africana and Aeranthes parkesii are only known from Zimbabwe .

Aeranthes arachnites
Aeranthes grandiflora
Illustration of Aeranthes grandiflora

Systematics and botanical history

The genus Aeranthes was established in 1824 by John Lindley . The first two species known to him were Aeranthes grandiflora and Aeranthes arachnitis . He formed the name Aeranthes from the Greek words "aer" for "air" and "anthos", "blossom". The spelling Aëranthes is also occasionally seen. It belongs to the Vandeae tribe and there in the Angraecinae subtribe .

The following species are included in the genus Aeranthes :

No longer counted in this genus:

  • Aeranthes henrici Schltr. => Erasanthe henrici (Schltr.) PJCribb, Hermans & DLRoberts

Culture

Some species are occasionally cultivated as ornamental plants. In common conditions for epiphytic orchids, they are easy to keep. Most species are adapted to shady, humid locations. Due to the drooping inflorescences, an elevated stand or the culture in hanging vessels is necessary.

literature

  • Joyce Stewart: Angraecoid orchids. Species from the African region . Timber Press, Portland, Oregon 2006, ISBN 0-88192-788-0 .
  • Isobyl la Croix, Phillip Cribb: Orchidaceae . In: Flora Zambesiaca . tape 11 , no. 2 , 1998 ( kew.org [accessed April 25, 2008]).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Aeranthes. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 4, 2020.

Web links

Commons : Aeranthes  - album with pictures, videos and audio files