Apostasia wallichii

Apostasia wallichii

Apostasia wallichii is a species in the genus Apostasia and thus belongs to the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). The up to a meter tall herbaceous plants colonize a large area in tropical Southeast Asia.

Description

Apostasia wallichii forms a rhizome of about 2 to 3.5 millimeters in diameter, it will be encased in a dry, 2 to 10 mm long Lower leaves. The roots arise not only along the rhizome, but also above ground in the lower leaves. They are quite variable in diameter, from 0.5 to 5 millimeters.

The ascending, unbranched shoots bear leaves in a loose rosette. The leaves are narrow lanceolate, they measure about 10 to 50 centimeters in length from 0.3 to 2 centimeters wide. The leaf base cuneate to run in a 1-4 cm long petiole, which includes the shoot and completely veiled. The leaf blade contains 15 to 60 longitudinal veins. At the blade tip, the leaf edges are merged to form a thin, up to 2 centimeters long, pointed tube. The leaf margin may be very finely serrated and glandular.

The inflorescence appears terminal, usually he is inclined to pendulous. In addition to the main axis, there are usually one to six secondary axes, each carrying about five to 20 flowers. These are yellow, rarely whitish colored and measure about one to two centimeters. Sepals and petals are hardly different, they are each 1 mm wide and 4-7 mm long, of that there is an approximately 1 mm long patch tip. The lip is to be distinguished from the other petals hardly it is slightly wider. The column is formed from the fused at the base with one another stamens and style. They may be straight or bent sharply. There are two fertile stamens and a barren Staminodium available. Most of the stylus protrudes beyond the stamens, he wears at the end of the two - or three-lobed stigma. The resulting capsule fruit is 12 to 25 millimeters in length and 1.5 to 2 millimeters in diameter.

The " Flora of China " indicates a heyday August during de Vogel observed over the large distribution area a year-round flowering time.

Also by the wide spread distribution fluctuate characteristics. On the northern edge of the area, the plants are smaller. Occurring on the Ryukyu Islands specimens measure only 5 to 15 inches and are nipponica also considered as a separate species Apostasia.

Occurrence

Apostasia wallichii is widespread in tropical Southeast Asia. The northern distribution limit runs from Northeast India through southern China. A disjoint, still farther north deposits is located on the Japanese Ryukyu Islands. Southeast Windwärts the area over Indo-China, Indonesia, the Philippines extends to New Guinea and northeastern Australia. Also a disjoint area is located in Sri Lanka. Apostasia wallichii occurs at altitudes 250-1200 m, exceptionally even in deeper conditions or in altitudes up to 1700 meters.

Ecology

The sites are mostly in the shade of evergreen, moist forests, sometimes on the edge of streams.

Apostasia wallichii forms a mycorrhiza with fungi from the genera Ceratobasidium and Botryobasidium.

Systematics and Botanical History

Apostasia wallichii was described in 1830 by Robert Brown for the first time. The name honors Nathaniel Wallich wallichii. There are a number of synonyms due to the fluctuation of the features.

Within the genus Apostasia assigns de Vogel Apostasia wallichii in the section Apostasia; these plants have a Staminodium in contrast to section Adactylus. Apostasia nipponica was described in 1930 by GENKEI Masamune and 1963 placed as a subspecies or variety to Apostasia wallichii by the same author. While de Vogel Apostasia nipponica was still considered in his revision of the genus in 1969 as an independent species, assigns the "World Checklist of selected plant families" of Kew Gardens Apostasia nipponica as a synonym to Apostasia wallichii one - Recent studies of DNA see, however Apostasia wallichii as more closely related with Apostasia odorata as with the plants from Japan.

Use

De Vogel reported from use as a medicine for diabetes in Malaysia.

Documents

The information in this article come from:

• EF de Vogel: Monograph of the Tribe Apostasieae ( Orchidaceae). In: Blumea. 17, No. 2, 1969, pp. 313-350.

Furthermore, quoting: