Corymborkis

Corymborkis flava

The genus Corymborkis from the orchid family (Orchidaceae) consists of six plant species and is pantropical spread. The plants grow terrestrially in the understory of forests.

Description

From the rhizome of the Corymborkis species arise at short intervals erect, unbranched, up to several meters long rung. The roots arise in tufts at the base of the shoots. From Corymborkis veratrifolia is known that the roots are surrounded by a three-to four-layer velamen. The leafy shoots are two lines. The leaves are oval to lanceolate, papery thin, folded along the numerous visible longitudinal nerves. At the base they go about without stems or pedicled only very briefly in a leaf sheath that covers the shoot.

The inflorescences appear laterally from the leaf axils. They are shorter than the leaves, bear numerous flowers and are usually branched. The flowers can be 'upside down, they are arranged in two rows on the inflorescence axis, the peduncle is short and twisted, the ovary cylindrical. The flower color is white, yellowish or greenish. The petals are up to the lip formed equal to each other: linear to lanceolate, abruptly narrower at the base and thereby spatulate. At the base of the petals are fused together for a short distance or another adhesive. The lip is wider than the other petals, it comprises the lower, narrow part of the column, the front, wide portion is folded back to spread. The column is long, slender, laterally winged. The stamen is dorsal, in the axis of the column, it contains two oblong pollinia. The pollinia are themselves divided lengthwise again, the pollen is in many chunks before adhesive together. The pollinia hanging over a cylindrical stalks ( hamulus ) at the Klebdrüse ( Viscidium ). Between stamen and stigma is the distinctly developed rostellum, this is bilobed. The bilobed scar is transverse to the column axis. The capsules are ripped six times, often remain in the withered flowers residues on the fruit stick.

Comber reported Corymborkis veratrifolia that the white, night -scented flowers are visited by moths.

Dissemination

The species of the genus Corymborkis have a wide distribution in the tropics. In America, they colonize the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America to Paraguay and Argentina to the south. In Africa they come from south of the Sahara except for desert areas almost everywhere, also in Madagascar and the Comoros. In Southeast Asia, they are found from southern China to northern Australia, south-east they reach even the Solomon Islands.

They grow terrestrially in damp or dry forests.

Systematics and botanical history

The genus was described in 1809 was Corymborkis of Thouars with the type species Corymborkis corymbis. The genus name comes from the Greek κόρυμβος corymbos, " peak" (also: " raceme " ) and describes the paniculate inflorescences.

The genus together with Tropidia the tribe Tropidieae.

The following species are known in this genus:

• Corymborkis corymbis Thouars, Africa, Madagascar.
• Corymborkis flava ( Sw. ) Kuntze, America.
• Corymborkis forcipigera ( Rchb.f. & Warsz. ) LOWilliams, America.
• Corymborkis galipanensis ( Rchb.f. ) Foldats. , Venezuela.
• Corymborkis minima P.J.Cribb, Africa.
• Corymborkis veratrifolia ( Reinw. ) flower, Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands.