Orchidaceae

Calanthe R.Br.

First published in Bot. Reg. 7: t. 573 (1821), nom. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & Subtropical Old World to Pacific, Mexico to Colombia, Caribbean.

Descriptions

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
Large or medium-sized terrestrial or rarely epiphytic herbs
Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs
Pseudobulbs ovoid, conical or cylindrical, leafy and often obscure, 1–several-noded
Morphology Leaves
Leaves plicate, petiolate, ± jointed, deciduous or persistent, often very large
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences basal, erect, racemose, laxly to densely few–many-flowered, ± pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers often showy and large
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals subsimilar
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals mostly smaller
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip mostly 3-lobed, rarely entire, fused at base to column, spurred at base; callus often verrucose or cristate at base of lip
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short, fleshy; pollinia 8, clavate; viscidium elliptic or lanceolate; rostellum bifid.
[FTEA]

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:1. 1995

Morphology General Habit
Large or medium-sized terrestrial herb; pseudobulbs leafy and often obscure, with 1 to several nodes.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves deciduous or persistent, petiolate, plicate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence erect, racemose, few to many-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually large and showy; tepals spreading; lip fused to the column at base, usually 3-lobed, spurred, often with a warty callus at the base.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China

    • The Malesian Key Group (2010) Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China (Version 2.0, 28 Jul 2010) The Nationaal Herbarium Nederland Leiden and The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0