Acanthophippium | Herbarium Digital Library


» Herbarium Digital Library

Acanthophippium

Category: Plants and Orchids
Date Posted: 2006-03-26

Only one species, a. Mantinianum, of the genus acanthophippium is reported from the philippines. Approximately ten species, however, have been described from the Asiatic-Pacific area from Ceylon, China and Java to New Guinea and the Celebes. The genus is terrestrial and one with fleshy flowers. It was originally described by Blume, from material found in Java, and the generic name although obscure refers to a saddle-cloth, probably alluding to the formation of the flowers.

The Philippine representative of the genus is a relatively large plant with a thickened stem about six to ten inches long that gradually tapers upward from a broad base. Its leaves are thin and papery, about five inches wide and twelve inches long, and resemble somewhat the leaves of some species of the genus Calanthe. The flower spikes are also about six to ten inches long and support up to five flowers that are a yellowish color with reddish stripes. The sepals, which form the fleshy sac-like structure of the flower, are about two inches long, and partially united, the petals are considerably reduced, and the labellum is also much shorter.

A. mantinianum is quite common throughout the Islands, Being reported from Bontoc Sub-Province, Sorsogon Province and has been collected by the authors from Tagaytay Ridge, Batangas Province and Lucban and Mauban, Quezon Province. The plant grows in a moist, shady location along the forest streams and, when grown in cultivation, should be potted with rocks and rich soil. This species flowers during June and July.