Lepidogyne

Lepidogyne is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It consists of only one to three species of herbaceous plants that are native to tropical Southeast Asia.

Description

The species of the genus Lepidogyne are relatively large, terrestrial orchids growing. The rhizome is short and strong, the shoot axis is densely foliated. The leaves are oblong - lanceolate, at the base they run out into a broad petiole, which includes the shoot half. The leaves are in a basal rosette and are longifolia at Lepidogyne long to 50 cm; the whole plant reaches a height of one meter or more. Bad reports on Papua New Guinea by a height to two meters in Lepidogyne sceptrum.

The racemose inflorescence is terminal. The inflorescence axis, the bracts, the ovary and the outer sides of the sepals are hairy. The showy bracts longer than the flowers. The flowers are 'upside, the ovary is twisted. The petals are not fused together. The lateral sepals are applied to the lip or are abducted. The petals are asymmetrical oval - rhombic, they adhere to the upper petal. The lip is divided into two parts: the basal part, which is Hypochil, sack -shaped, inside there are six conical appendage. The edges of the Hypochils point upwards and end in two short lateral lobes. The front part of the lip, the Epichil, adjoins, without center and is oblong- triangular. The column is grown in the lower third of the lip. The stamen is narrow oval to lanceolate with a heart-shaped base. It contains two club-shaped pollinia stick their stalks to a common lanceolate viscid disc ( Viscidium ). The scar consists of a surface. The lower edge of the scar area is extended to a disc-shaped, fleshy membrane that covers the scar partially. The separation between scar tissue and stamen ( rostellum ) is triangular and notched at the tip.

Occurrence

Lepidogyne is native to Southeast Asia. The range extends from Malaysia and the Philippines to Indonesia to Papua New Guinea. There are colonized 500-1300 meters altitude. The sites are shaded by woods and thickets, and in secondary forests occurs Lepidogyne. The plants grow on humus-rich or boggy soils. From Java Comber reported a high incidence locally.

Systematics and botanical history

Lepidogyne is classified within the tribe Cranichideae in the subtribe Goodyerinae. After Dressler can this be further subdivided into two groups; Lepidogyne is in the larger group with only one stigmatic surface. The genera Goodyera and hylophila are closely related. A distinguishing feature of Lepidogyne is the " plate " on the scar - but there are species in the genus Goodyera with raised edges around the scar, and hylophila find the side of the scar two appendages.

The genus Lepidogyne was erected in 1858 by Carl Ludwig Blume. The name comes from the Greek λεπίς lepis, " scale ", and γυνῄ gyne, "woman", it refers to the fabric on the stigmatic surface. Type species is Lepidogyne longifolia, this flower had previously described as Neottia longifolia. While some authors, two other described by Rudolf Schlechter species to the genus Lepidogyne count ( sceptrum Lepidogyne and Lepidogyne minor), are asked this in the checklist of Kew Gardens as synonyms to Lepidogyne longifolia.