Leptotes (orchid)
Leptotes bicolor ( Type species )
Leptotes is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). The epiphytic growing plants originate from South America. The genus was erected in 1833 by John Lindley in " Edwards ' Botanical Register'.
Description
The Leptotes species are small, herbaceous, perennial plants. At short intervals are on the rhizome cylindrical, short shoots, each carrying one or rarely two leaves. The leaves are succulent, terete and provided with a longitudinally extending groove. The roots are surrounded by a two to four cell layers thick velamen radicum.
The terminal, racemose inflorescence usually consists of two or three, sometimes up to seven flowers. The petals are white to pink, the lip may also contain yellow shares. The petals are narrower than the sepals. The lip is three-lobed, the side lobes are spread out or beaten up, but cases do not include the column. The column is laterally widened at the top. The stamen contains six pollinia, four small and one large pair; latter are interpreted as intergrowth of two small ones. The fruit is fleshy and has a vanilla flavor.
Dissemination
Leptotes is native in tropical southeastern South America, most species are restricted to Brazil. Leptotes bicolor occurs in Paraguay, Leptotes unicolor in Argentina.
The epiphytic species growing in different forests, dry situations on the coast up to wet, montane rain forests. Leptotes unicolor occurs in subtropical coniferous forests with Araucaria (Araucaria ) and Podocarpus ( Podocarpus ).
Systematics and botanical history
Leptotes was erected in 1833 by John Lindley bicolor with the type species Leptotes. The name comes from the Greek and means " delicate, dainty ".
The data on the number of species vary between 9 valid name and various synonyms:
- Leptotes bicolor Lindl. Synonyms: Leptotes serrulata Lindl., Leptotes glaucophylla Hoffmann.
- Synonyms: minuta Leptotes Rolfe
- Synonyms: Leptotes paranaensis Barb. Rodr.
Use
Leptotes are sometimes cultivated as ornamentals. They are generally very easy to cultivate as staked plants or in small pots with tempered - warm attitude. A short rest period after flowering is conducive to growth, but not absolutely necessary.
Documents
The information in this article come from mainly:
- Alec M. Pridgeon, Phillip Cribb, Mark W. Chase ( Ed.): Genera Orchidacearum. Epidendroideae ( Part one ). 2nd edition. 4/1, Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford 2005, ISBN 0-19-850712-7, pp. 271-274.
- Carl L. Withner: The Cattleyas and Their relatives. Volume III. Schomburgkia, Sophronitis, and Other South American genera, Timber Press, Portland, 1993, ISBN 0-88192-269-2, pp. 94-98.
Furthermore, quoting: