ASCOCENTRUM | Herbarium Digital Library


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ASCOCENTRUM

Category: Plants and Orchids
Date Posted: 2006-10-11

THE MEMBERS OF THIS GENUS, ALONG WITH THOSE WHICH are now included under Anota and Rhynchostylis, were originally ascribed to Saccolabium. However, in 1913, after a study of the complex group of plants which at that time comprised the genus Saccolabium, Dr. R. Schlechter proposed to separate the large heterogenous group into several genera of which Ascocentrum was one. The generic name Ascocentrum is derived from Greek asko, "a bag," and kentron, "a spur or spade," in reference to the labellum of the typical flower of the genus.

Only one member of this small genus of about five species which are native to the Malaysian area, is reported from the Philippine Islands. This species, A. miraiatuna, is also found in other parts of the general area and was first collected from Java in 1846. It was originally described by Lindley from a plant that flowered in England in 1847. He assigned this to the genus Saccolabium but later, Schlechter reassigned the species to the genus Ascocentrum. The specific name, miniatunz, refers to the minute size of the flowers.

Plants of this species are Vanda-like, short, about eight to twelve inches high with coarse compact slight re-curved channeled leaves three to four inches long and three-quarters of an inch wide. The racemes are erect, four to five inches high and have twenty to forty close-set bright orange flowers; each about 1/2 inch. in diameter. Often two or more flower spikes form on a plant and these will remain in flower for about two or three weeks.

This species is collected from low altitudes of central Luzon and Mindanao. The plant grows well in Manila and its attractive bright-colored flowers are a pretty addition to a collection. It should be cultivated in a similar manner as the native Vandas.