Calanthe

Calanthe discolor

Calanthe is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It is widely distributed in the tropics of Asia, Africa and Central America. Most terrestrial species grow on the forest floor, some are epiphytes. Because of their beautiful blooms they are occasionally cultivated.

Description

All species of this genus form tightly side by side shoots, each with limited growth. The shoot axis can be long - cylindrical or compressed and thickened into pseudobulbs. These consist of several internodes and occupied the whole length with leaves. The leaves are oblong - oval, thin and along the numerous prominent leaf veins folded. The species with pseudobulbs are deciduous, those without storage organ are evergreen.

The upright inflorescence appears at the side of the stem axis or from its base. He is grapey and carries many resupinierte flowers. These are usually conspicuous pink, white or yellow. Bracts, ovary and also the petals can be hairy. The three sepals and lateral petals are free and not inclined together to form a tube. The lip is two or vierlappig provided at the base with a spur. At the center of the lip there is often a warty, fleshy or existing from several keels callus. The column is at least at the base, but often fused along their entire length with the lip. The stamen sits terminal and contains eight waxy pollinia.

Dissemination

The species of the genus Calanthe having a pantropical distribution. Center of diversity is Southeast Asia, in Africa and in Madagascar occur several ways. One way Calanthe calanthoides, is common in Central America. Many terrestrial species grow in the shade of forests, often at higher altitudes up to 3200 meters.

System

Within the subfamily Epidendroideae the genus Calanthe is classified in the tribe Collabieae. Closely related is the genus Phaius, the distinguishing feature is the in Phaius not intergrown with the pillar lip. However, there are both Phaius - species in which the column is fused at their base with the lip, as well as Calanthe species, where this is not enough adhesion over the entire length of the column - the morphological differentiation is therefore unclear.

The genus Calanthe can be divided into two subgenera. The sub-genus Calanthe Calanthe with the type species veratrifolia includes evergreen plants without pseudobulbs. In the subgenus Preptanthe however, the plants have storage organs and survive a drought deciduous.

Designed by Robert Brown in 1821 published name Calanthe is a nomen conservandum, as previously Thouars had given the name later rarely used Alismorkis.

The number of species is given by the Kew Checklist with 187, while Phillip Cribb speaks of 260 species.

Culture

Due to the relatively large, colorful blossoms of some species are found in culture. Depending on the origin of the species different demands are made. So need the evergreen species all year round watering, while the deciduous need a dry rest period. Calanthe species are often infested with spider mites, particularly in dry, heated air.

Documents

• Alec M. Pridgeon, Phillip Cribb, Mark W. Chase: Genera Orchidacearum. Vol 4/1: Epidendroidae ( Part one ). Oxford University Press, 2005. Pp. 122-127. ISBN 0-19-850712-7