View source for Ascocentrum

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Ascocentrum
| image = Ascocentrum-miniatum.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Rust-red Ascocentrum (''Ascocentrum miniatum'')
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Epidendroideae]]
| tribus = [[Vandeae]]
| subtribus = [[Sarcanthinae]]
| alliance = Vanda
| genus = '''''Ascocentrum'''''
| genus_authority = [[Rudolf Schlechter|Schltr.]] ex J. J. Sm.|date = 1917
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text.
}}


'''Ascocentrum''' is a small genus belonging to the orchid family ([[Orchidaceae]]). The type species is ''Ascocentrum miniatum'' (Lindl.) Schltr. ex J. J. Sm. (originally as ''Saccolabium miniatum'' Lindl.).

They occur mainly in warmer to intermediate, humid climates of the foothills of the [[Himalayas]], in [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], the [[Philippines]], [[Java (island)|Java]] and [[Borneo]].

These monopodial [[epiphyte|epiphytic]] orchids grow on deciduous trees. They have a short, simple to bifurcate stem (max. 15-18 cm) with an upright, compact, conical to racemose inflorescence, consisting of smaller brightly colored [[flower]]s. These flowers have a prominent spur and a strap-like lip. Their bright colors vary between yellow, orange, red, [[orchid (color)|orchid]] or cerise.

The [[chromosome]] number is 2n = 38.

They are popular among orchid lovers because they resemble the compact [[Vanda]]-like species. Nevertheless their cultivation is rather difficult.

== Species ==

*''Ascocentrum ampullaceum'' (Roxb.) Schltr., (1913) : Vein-like Ascocentrum (Nepal to Thailand)
*''Ascocentrum aurantiacum'' (J.J.Sm.) Schltr., (1913): Orange Ascocentrum
**''Ascocentrum aurantiacum'' subsp. ''aurantiacum'' (Sulawesi)
**''Ascocentrum aurantiacum'' subsp. ''philippinense'' Christenson, (1992) (Philippines)
*''Ascocentrum aureum'' J.J.Sm., (1917)
*''Ascocentrum christensonianum'' Haager, (1993) : Christensen’s Ascocentrum (Vietnam)
*''Ascocentrum curvifolium'' (Lindl.) Schltr., (1913) : Curved-leafed Ascocentrum (Nepal, China, Vietnam)
*''Ascocentrum garayi'' Christenson, (1992): Garay’s Ascocentrum (Himalayas, Malaysia, Vietnam)
*''Ascocentrum himalaicum'' (Deb, Sengupta & Malick) Christenson (1987)
*''Ascocentrum insularum'' Christenson, (1992)
*''Ascocentrum miniatum'' (Lindl.) Schltr., (1913) : Rust-red Ascocentrum (Malaysia, Java, Borneo)
*''Ascocentrum pumilum'' (Hayata) Schltr. (1919) : 
*''Ascocentrum rubescens'' (Rolfe) P.F.Hunt (1970)
*''Ascocentrum rubrum'' (Lindl.) Seidenf. (1988)
*''Ascocentrum semiteretifolium'' Seidenf. (1970) : Semi-terete Leaf Ascocentrum (Thailand)

== Intergeneric hybrids ==

They are generally crossed with Vanda species into numerous intergeneric [[hybrid]]s, giving the following nothogeneric names (i.e. the name at generic rank for a hybrid between representatives of two or more genera)
* x''[[Ascocenda]]'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Alphonsoara'' (''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Vanda'' x ''Vandopsis'')
* x''Ascofadanda'' J.M.H.Shaw (2004) (''Ascocentrum'' x Vanda x ''Seidenfadenia'' x ''Vanda'') 
* x''Ascovandoritis'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Doritis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Bokchoonara'' (''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Bovornara'' (''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Christieara'' (''Aerides'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Darwinara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Neofinetia'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x Vanda)
* x''Debruyneara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Luisia'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Devereuxara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Eastonara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Gastrochilus'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Fujiora'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Trichoglottis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Himoriara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Hirayamaara'' S.Hiray. & J.M.H.Shaw (2004) (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Neofinetia'' x ''Paraphalaenopsis'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Holcenda'' J.M.H.S
haw (2003) (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Holcoglossum'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Hygrocenda'' J.M.H.Shaw (2003) (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Hygrochilus'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Isaoara'' (''Aerides'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Kagawara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Knappara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'' x ''Vandopsis'')
* x''Knudsonara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Neofinetia'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Lewisara'' (''Aerides'' x ''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Mendelara'' Jusczak & J.M.H.Shaw (2004) (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Holcoglossum'' x ''Neofinetia'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Micholitzara'' (''Aerides'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Neofinetia'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Mokara'' (''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Nakamotoara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Neofinetia'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Okaara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Onoara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'' x ''Vandopsis'')
* x''Pageara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Luisia'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Paulara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Doritis'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Robinaria'' (''Aerides'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Ronnyara'' (''Aerides'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Shigeuraara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Ascoglossum'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Stamariaara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Sutingara'' (''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Vanda'' x ''Vandopsis'')
* x''Vascostylis'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Rhynchostylis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Vandewegheara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Doritis'' x ''Phalaenopsis'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Vanglossum'' (''Ascoglossum'' x ''Vanda'')
* x''Wilkinsara'' (''Ascocentrum'' x ''Vanda'' x ''Vandopsis'')
* x''Yusofara'' (''Arachnis'' x ''Ascocentrum'' x ''Renanthera'' x ''Vanda'')

== Reference work ==

*Roberts*, J.A., Anuku, S., Burdon, J., Mathew, P., McGough*, H.N. & Newman, A.D. (comps) (2001 [2002]). ''CITES orchid checklist. Volume 3'': for the genera Aerangis, Anagraecum, Ascocentrum, Bletilla, Brassavola, Calanthe, Catasetum, Miltonia, Miltonioides, Miltoniopsis, Renanthera, Renantherella, Rhynchostylis, Rossioglossum, Vanda and Vandopsis. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 233 pp.

[[Category:Orchid genera]]