Arachnis (orchids)

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Arachnis
Arachnis labrosa, illustration

Arachnis labrosa , illustration

Systematics
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Orchids (orchidaceae)
Subfamily : Epidendroideae
Tribe : Vandeae
Sub tribus : Aeridinae
Genre : Arachnis
Scientific name
Arachnis
flower

The plant genus Arachnis belongs to the family of orchids (Orchidaceae). The approximately 15 species grow epiphytically in tropical Asia. The species - especially Arachnis hookeriana - were often used to breed orchid hybrids for cut flower production.

description

Vegetative characteristics

The Arachnis species grow monopodially with occasional branches. The stem axis is often stretched like a liana, in some species the internodes are not as long and the stem axis grows upright or overhanging. The roots are mostly distributed along the stem axis, occasionally only in the lower area.

The leaves are arranged in two rows, long-oval to ribbon-shaped, with a drawn-in tip somewhat bilobed.

Generative characteristics

The racemose or paniculate inflorescences arise laterally from the leaf axils in the upper area of ​​the stem axes and usually protrude above the leaves.

The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and threefold. The bracts are not fused, spread out and have a fleshy texture. Except for the lip, the bracts are shaped identically - very narrow, obovate or spatulate. The small lip forms a spur at the base and at this point is articulated with the short extension of the column (column base). The blade of the lip is three-lobed, with the small lateral lobes standing upright and the middle lobe being covered with a longitudinal callus. At the end of the short, compact column is the stamen with four pollinia in two pairs.

Locations

They are epiphytically growing plants of ever humid and seasonally dry tropical forests.

Systematics and distribution

The genus Arachnis is part of the subtribe Aeridinae. Crosses with numerous related genera such as Ascocentrum , Phalaenopsis , Renanthera and Vanda were realized.

Arachnis cathcartii
Arachnis flos-aeris
Arachnis longisepala

The genus Arachnis was established in 1825 by Carl Ludwig Blume . The generic name Arachnis is derived from the Greek word arachne for "spider" and refers to the shape of the flower. Synonyms for Arachnis flower are: Esmeralda Rchb. f. , Armodorum Breda , Arachnanthe Blume , Arhynchium Lindl.

The species of the genus Arachnis are common in tropical Asia. In the northwest, the distribution area extends to Bhutan and Sikkim, to the southeast, southern China, rear India , the Philippines and Borneo are populated, the area extends to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands .

There are about 15 Arachnis species:

The nature hybrid of Arachnis flos-aeris × Arachnis hookeriana becomes Arachnis × maingayi (Hook. F.) Schltr. called.

No longer to be included in the genus Arachnis :

literature

Most of the information in this article comes from:

Individual evidence

  1. Helmut Genaust: Etymological dictionary of botanical plant names. 3rd, completely revised and expanded edition. Nikol, Hamburg 2005, ISBN 3-937872-16-7 (reprint from 1996).
  2. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Arachnis. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 5, 2020.

Web links

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