Envoy at 13:59, 23 June 2007

2007-06-23T13:59:39Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Acanthephippium''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Epidendroideae]]
| tribus = [[Arethuseae]]
| subtribus = [[Bletiinae]]
| alliance = Calanthe
| genus = '''''Acanthephippium'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carl Ludwig Blume|Blume]], [[1825]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See [[Acanthephippium#Species|Section Species]]
}}

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

This [[terrestrial plant |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 [[rhizome]]s. The oblong and fleshy [[pseudobulb]]s are up to 25 cm tall. They produce at their apex 2 to 3 large [[Wiktionary:plicate|plicate]], [[Wiktionary: lanceolate|lanceolate]], parallel-veined [[Leaf|leaves]], which can be up to 65 cm long.

The erect [[inflorescence]] arises laterally from the pseudobulbs, with 3 to 6 flowers, [[Wiktionary:subtended|subtended]] by large, [[Wiktionary:glabrous|glabrous]] [[bract]]s. The flowers are prominent, large, [[Wiktionary:striated|striated]] 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)

== Reference ==
* 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 link==
*[http://www.shigitatsu.com/LIN-619.htm Drawing of Acanthephippium curtisii]

[[Category:Orchid genera]]
[[Category:Paleotropical flora]]

Acanthephippium - Revision history

Envoy at 13:59, 23 June 2007