Ascocentrum
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 Rust-red Ascocentrum (Ascocentrum miniatum) | ||||||||||||||||||
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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 and Borneo.
These monopodial 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 flowers. These flowers have a prominent spur and a strap-like lip. Their bright colors vary between yellow, orange, red, 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 hybrids, giving the following nothogeneric names (i.e. the name at generic rank for a hybrid between representatives of two or more genera)
- xAscocenda (Ascocentrum x Vanda)
- xAlphonsoara (Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Vanda x Vandopsis)
- xAscofadanda J.M.H.Shaw (2004) (Ascocentrum x Vanda x Seidenfadenia x Vanda)
- xAscovandoritis (Ascocentrum x Doritis x Vanda)
- xBokchoonara (Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Phalaenopsis x Vanda)
- xBovornara (Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xChristieara (Aerides x Ascocentrum x Vanda)
- xDarwinara (Ascocentrum x Neofinetia x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xDebruyneara (Ascocentrum x Luisia x Vanda)
- xDevereuxara (Ascocentrum x Phalaenopsis x Vanda)
- xEastonara (Ascocentrum x Gastrochilus x Vanda)
- xFujiora (Ascocentrum x Trichoglottis x Vanda)
- xHimoriara (Ascocentrum x Phalaenopsis x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xHirayamaara S.Hiray. & J.M.H.Shaw (2004) (Ascocentrum x Neofinetia x Paraphalaenopsis x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xHolcenda J.M.H.S
haw (2003) (Ascocentrum x Holcoglossum x Vanda)
- xHygrocenda J.M.H.Shaw (2003) (Ascocentrum x Hygrochilus x Vanda)
- xIsaoara (Aerides x Ascocentrum x Phalaenopsis x Vanda)
- xKagawara (Ascocentrum x Renanthera x Vanda)
- xKnappara (Ascocentrum x Rhynchostylis x Vanda x Vandopsis)
- xKnudsonara (Ascocentrum x Neofinetia x Renanthera x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xLewisara (Aerides x Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Vanda)
- xMendelara Jusczak & J.M.H.Shaw (2004) (Ascocentrum x Holcoglossum x Neofinetia x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xMicholitzara (Aerides x Ascocentrum x Neofinetia x Vanda)
- xMokara (Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Vanda)
- xNakamotoara (Ascocentrum x Neofinetia x Vanda)
- xOkaara (Ascocentrum x Renanthera x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xOnoara (Ascocentrum x Renanthera x Vanda x Vandopsis)
- xPageara (Ascocentrum x Luisia x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xPaulara (Ascocentrum x Doritis x Phalaenopsis x Renanthera x Vanda)
- xRobinaria (Aerides x Ascocentrum x Renanthera x Vanda)
- xRonnyara (Aerides x Ascocentrum x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xShigeuraara (Ascocentrum x Ascoglossum x Renanthera x Vanda)
- xStamariaara (Ascocentrum x Phalaenopsis x Renanthera x Vanda)
- xSutingara (Arachnis x Ascocentrum x Phalaenopsis x Vanda x Vandopsis)
- xVascostylis (Ascocentrum x Rhynchostylis x Vanda)
- xVandewegheara (Ascocentrum x Doritis x Phalaenopsis x Vanda)
- xVanglossum (Ascoglossum x Vanda)
- xWilkinsara (Ascocentrum x Vanda x Vandopsis)
- xYusofara (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.