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]

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial (rarely epiphytic) herb with fibrous roots, sometimes with pseudobulbs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves arising from a pseudobulb or spaced along the stem, petiolate, plicate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 1- to few-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals and petals free, subequal; lip erect, entire or 3-lobed, spurred or saccate, with longitudinal ridges on the upper surface.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column long, clavate; anther operculate, incumbent, 2-celled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia
Pollinia 8 in 2 groups of 4 with caudicles but no viscidia.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma near apex of column.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial or rarely epiphytic herbs, with crowded internodes at base sometimes swelling to form a pseudobulb; roots fibrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves several, either arising from pseudobulb or spaced along an erect stem; petioles long; lamina elliptic to lanceolate-oblong, acute or acuminate, plicate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Scape
Flower-scape basal or lateral, usually erect
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence racemose, terminal, 1- to few-flowered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually large, often conspicuously coloured
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Sepals free, subequal, spreading; petals similar, narrower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip erect, concave or cucullate, entire or ± 3-lobed, side lobes embracing column, base often adnate to column, spurred or saccate, longitudinally ridged on upper surface
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column elongate, clavate, 2-angled at apex, arms absent, foot sometimes present; anther operculate, incumbent, distinctly 2-celled, often hairy; pollinia 8 in 2 groups of 4, obovate-oblong, laterally compressed, caudiculate; viscidium absent; stigma near apex of column, occasionally with small appendages; rostellum present or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule ellipsoid.
[FTEA]

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

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • 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 Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. 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

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. 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