Aulosepalum
Aulosepalum is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It consists of about six to twelve species of herbaceous plants that are native to Central America.
Description
The species of the genus Aulosepalum form a basal rosette of leaves. The leaves are broadly to narrowly oval shaped, end tapered, long -stalked. The cigar-shaped thickened fleshy, hairy roots set in a clump at the base of the shoot.
The racemose inflorescence appears terminal, at this time the leaves wilt. He wears at the top of numerous resupinierte flowers and is surrounded by bracts. The ovary is slightly twisted spirally. The three identically designed sepals are fused together at the base into a tube, repulsed at the top. The lateral petals are close to the upper petal. On the outside of the petals are hairy glandular especially at their base. At their point of attachment to the ovary to form a nectary. The lip on the base begins with a long, narrow part of the front portion is wider oval. Sit two rearwardly nectar glands between these two parts. The turned up sides of the lip forms a narrow access to the nectary with the column. The lip is hairy on the inside. The column is hairy slightly clavate and on the bottom a little. At the point of attachment to the ovary it forms an extension of the pedestal. The scar consists of two contiguous areas. The stamen is located dorsally, it contains two pollinia, each again divided into two deep. While there are no distinct pedicels between pollinium and the viscid disc ( Viscidium ), however, are the pollinia on the side, where they are pulled out with the viscid disc, hard and tightly -adhesive, further away from the viscid disc they are crumbly. The column surrounding the stamen with an almost tubular about this grown tissue ( Klinandrium ) and side with two staminodes. The separation between scar tissue and stamen ( rostellum ) is only slightly pronounced.
The seed capsules are oval shaped, contain numerous very small seeds (780 microns ).
Occurrence
Aulosepalum is widespread in Central America from Mexico to Panama. The species occur in high altitude 200-2800 meters. The sites are characterized by a seasonally dry climate, the dry season through the leafless plants with the help of the thickened roots. At the beginning of the rainy season, the leaves develop, at the beginning of the dry season, the flowers and the leaves wilt appear. The seeds are then ready until the next rainy season.
Systematics and botanical history
Aulosepalum is classified within the tribe Cranichideae in the subtribe Spiranthinae. Related genera are Beloglottis and Svenkoeltzia.
The genus Auosepalum has a complex history of botanical classification and naming. It has been established by Rudolf Schlechter in 1920 under the name Gamosepalum. However this name had already been used in 1897 by servant for other plants, so that this name for Schlechters orchids was not valid. Only in 1980 was Leslie Garay of the genus in the new name Aulosepalum, which refers to the Roehrig fused petals. As part of its work Garay had this and related genera to a type species and ordered the affiliation of other species accordingly. By Pamela Burns- Balogh different typification has been suggested that their opinion rather herself in terms Schlechters original descriptions. Garays Aulosepalum hemichrea serves as its type species for the genus Deiregyne. As a result, almost all species of the genus have been described as Aulosepalum Deiregyne from her. Other botanists argue Schlechters vague descriptions fit very many related orchids and could not serve as a basis, so be Garays type species and assignments to be regarded as valid.
While Gerardo Salazar writes about twelve species, only the following from Kew Gardens are counted six to Aulosepalum:
- Aulosepalum hemichrea ( Lindl. ) Garay
- Aulosepalum nelsonii ( Greenm. ) Garay
- Aulosepalum oestlundii ( Burns-Bal. ) Catling
- Aulosepalum pulchrum ( Schltr. ) Catling
- Aulosepalum ramentaceum ( Lindl. ) Garay
- Aulosepalum tenuiflorum ( Greenm. ) Garay