Calanthe
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Calanthe is a genus from the family of the orchid (Orchidaceae). It is widespread in the tropics of Asia, Africa and Central America. Most species grow terrestrially on the forest floor, some are epiphytes . They are occasionally cultivatedbecause of their beautiful flowers .
description
All species of this genus form closely spaced shoots with limited growth. The stem axis can be long-cylindrical or compressed and thickened to pseudobulbs . These consist of several internodes and are covered with leaves along their entire length . The leaves are oblong-oval, thin and folded along the numerous protruding leaf veins . The species with pseudobulbs are deciduous, those without a storage organ are evergreen.
The upright inflorescence appears laterally from the stem axis or from its base. It is racemose and has many resupinated flowers. These are usually conspicuously pink, white or yellow in color. Bracts, ovaries and also the petals can be hairy. The three sepals and the side petals are free and not inclined to form a tube. The lip is two- or four-lobed, with a spur at the base. There is often a warty, fleshy, or multi-quill callus on the center of the lip . The column is fused to the lip at least at the base, but often over its entire length. The stamen is terminal and contains eight waxy pollinia .
distribution
The species of the genus Calanthe have a pantropical distribution. The center of diversity is Southeast Asia, and a number of species are also found in Africa and Madagascar. One species, Calanthe calanthoides , is common in Central America. Many species grow terrestrially in the shade of forests, often at higher altitudes up to 3200 meters.
Systematics
Within the subfamily Epidendroideae , the genus Calanthe is classified in the tribe Collabieae . The genus Phaius is closely related , the distinguishing feature is the lip that is not fused with the column in Phaius . However, there are both Phaius species in which the column is fused with the lip at its base, and Calanthe species in which this fusions does not extend over the entire length of the column - the morphological delimitation is therefore unclear.
The genus Calanthe can be divided into two sub-genera. The subgenus Calanthe with the type species Calanthe veratrifolia comprises evergreen plants without pseudobulbs. In the subgenus Preptanthe, on the other hand, the plants have storage organs and survive a dry period by shedding leaves .
The name Calanthe , published by Robert Brown in 1821, is a nomen conservandum , as Thouars had already used the name Alismorkis before that.
The number of species is given by the Kew Checklist as 187, while Phillip Cribb speaks of 260 species. According to R. Govaerts, 216 species are recognized (as of 2020). A list of the species and their range can be found at WCSP.
Culture
Due to the relatively large, colored flowers, some species can be found in culture. Different demands are made depending on the origin of the species. The evergreen species need watering all year round, while the deciduous species need a dry period of rest. Calanthe species are often infested by spider mites , especially when the air is dry.
literature
- Alec M. Pridgeon, Phillip Cribb, Mark W. Chase: Genera Orchidacearum . Vol. 4/1: Epidendroidae (Part one) . Oxford University Press, 2005. pp. 122-127. ISBN 0-19-850712-7
Individual evidence
- ^ Robert Brown (1821): Botanical Register . Vol. 7, p. 573. Online, accessed February 23, 2008
- ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Calanthe. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew .
- ↑ In: Genera Orchidacearum . Vol. 4/1, p. 123
- ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Calanthe. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 6, 2020.
