Gonatostylis

Gonatostylis is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It consists of only two species that occur in New Caledonia and Alofi.

Description

The two species of the genus Gonatostylis grow as a perennial herbaceous plant. They form a creeping rhizome, the roots are thick and hairy. The ascending shoot axes carry the leaves in a basal rosette. The leaves are green or brownish with darker drawing. The oblong to lanceolate leaf blade goes into a short broad petiole above, the tubular leaf bases include the stem axis and hide it completely.

The inflorescence axis of the terminal racemose inflorescence is glandular hairy. There are six to nine bracts above numerous small flowers on it. The bracts are slightly longer than the ovary, both also hairy glandular. The ovary is twisted and the flowers ' upside down accordingly. The bloom barely open, the three sepals cover the inner bracts. The lateral petals are asymmetrically oblong or lanceolate wrong, cling to the upper petal. The lip is fleshy, bulged at the base, longitudinally extending strips and various fleshy appendages internally provided with two, on the outside warty - papillose. The column is narrow, with a bend by 90 ° in the middle. The stamen is round to bean- shaped, it contains two pollinia that sit directly on the viscid disc ( Viscidium ). The scar consists of two interconnected surfaces, and is recessed concave. The separation between scar tissue and stamen ( rostellum ) is cut low at the end.

The elongated seeds measure 0.6 to 1.3 mm.

Occurrence

Gonatostylis is mainly known from New Caledonia. While about Hallé and Ormerod and Cribb specify both species as endemic to New Caledonia, reports the checklist of Kew Gardens in Gonatostylis vieillardii of an occurrence on Alofi. Gonatostylis are found at altitudes 100-1400 m. They grow in the rain forest, savannah and scrubland.

Systematics and botanical history

Gonatostylis is classified within the tribe Cranichideae in the subtribe Goodyerinae. After Dressler can this be further subdivided into two groups; Gonatostylis is in the larger group, the scar is not divided into two. Closely related is Danhatchia australis from New Zealand, some Goodyera species have similarities.

The first description was Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1876 under the name Rhamphidia vieillardii. The genus Gonatostylis was erected in 1906 by Rudolf Schlechter. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for γωνία gonia " angle" and στήλη stylos for " column ", together; refers to the angular column. The type species is Gonatostylis vieillardii. Nicolas Hallé described in 1977, the second type, Gonatostylis bougainvillei.

Use

Both species are cultivated occasionally in New Caledonia. In humus rich, permeable soil in a shady location, the culture is considered to be relatively simple.