Acanthephippium

Taxobox
name = "Acanthephippium"

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image_width = frameless
image_caption = "Acanthephippium javanicum"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Orchidaceae
subfamilia = Epidendroideae
tribus = Arethuseae
subtribus = Bletiinae
alliance = Calanthe
genus = "Acanthephippium"
genus_authority = Blume, 1825
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See Section Species

"Acanthephippium" is a genus of orchid with twelve species (family Orchidaceae). The name of this genus is derived from the Greek words "acanthos" ("spiny") and "ephippion" ("saddle"), referring to the saddle-like labellum of the plants.

This terrestrial and sometimes myco-heterotrophic genus of sympodial orchids is distributed from the tropical and subtropical Indian subcontinent to China and the southwest Pacific.

The terrestrial species are up to 80 cm tall. They have short rhizomes. The oblong and fleshy pseudobulbs are up to 25 cm tall. They produce at their apex 2 to 3 large , , parallel-veined leaves, which can be up to 65 cm long.

The erect inflorescence arises laterally from the pseudobulbs, with 3 to 6 flowers, by large, bracts. The flowers are prominent, large, cup- or urn-shaped, fleshy, waxy, and about 4 cm long. They resemble a tulip, a most unusual shape for an orchid. The flowers have a wide range of colors, from dull yellow to red to shades of orange and pink, marked with stripes or spots. The blossoms are usually odiferous with a very strong fragrance.

This genus is allied to genera "Calanthe", "Phaius", and "Spathoglottis".

Species

* "Acanthephippium bicolor" (S. India, Sri Lanka, New Guinea).
* "Acanthephippium chrysoglossum" (W. Sumatra).
* "Acanthephippium curtisii" (Borneo - Sarawak).
* "Acanthephippium eburneum" (N. Sumatra, Borneo - Sarawak).
* "Acanthephippium gougahensis" (Thailand, Vietnam).
* "Acanthephippium javanicum" (W. Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, New Guinea). (type species; commonly grown)
* "Acanthephippium lilacinum" (N. Borneo).
* "Acanthephippium mantinianum" (Philippines) (commonly grown)
* "Acanthephippium parviflorum" (Vietnam, S. Sumatra to Java).
* "Acanthephippium splendidum" (Sulawesi to SW. Pacific, New Guinea).
* "Acanthephippium striatum" (E. Himalaya to Java). (commonly grown)
* "Acanthephippium sylhetense" (Sikkim to Philippines)

References

* Thomas, S.A. 1997 - Taxonomic revision of the genus Acanthephippium (Orchidaceae). Orchid Monographs, Vol. 8, pp. 119-134, 178-179, 236-246, figures 56-66, plates 5c-6d. Rijksherbarium / Hortus Botanicus, Leiden, The Netherlands.

External links

* [http://www.shigitatsu.com/LIN-619.htm Drawing of "Acanthephippium curtisii"]
* [http://culturesheet.org/orchidaceae:acanthephippium Acanthephippium culture] on the CultureSheet.org