Aspasia (orchid): Difference between revisions
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Their flowers last for about ten days, however, as not all open at the same time it is common to have a plant blooming during a whole month. [[Pollination]] has not been observed and seems to be uncommon for few plants bearing fruits have been seen in nature, however, their floral morphology indicates the possibility of [[Euglossini]] [[bee]]s pollinators.<ref name="DM"/> When ''Aspasia'' species are used to produce artificial hybrids, the characteristic that seems to predominate is the low number of resulting flowers by inflorescence, prevailing even over the so floriferous ''[[Oncidium]]''. | Their flowers last for about ten days, however, as not all open at the same time it is common to have a plant blooming during a whole month. [[Pollination]] has not been observed and seems to be uncommon for few plants bearing fruits have been seen in nature, however, their floral morphology indicates the possibility of [[Euglossini]] [[bee]]s pollinators.<ref name="DM"/> When ''Aspasia'' species are used to produce artificial hybrids, the characteristic that seems to predominate is the low number of resulting flowers by inflorescence, prevailing even over the so floriferous ''[[Oncidium]]''. | ||
Despite being easy to grow ''Aspasia'' species tent to be subject to spots on their thin leaves generally caused by [[fungus|fungi]] proliferation. They should never be exposed to full [[sunlight]]. They are not highly sensitive to [[temperature]] but as it varies according to their origin, ''A. lunata'' being the one that grows cooler and ''A. principissa'' the warmer grower all under intermediate or warm temperatures, when possible it is better to try to reproduce the temperature on their habitats. Also for watering it is important to verify the necessities of each species as they come from different environments. Despite they show a resting period after blooming, ''Aspasia'' always need to be watered, more abundantly during active growth. They need at least 75% of [[humidity]] and good [[ventilation]] all the time. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of half-chopped [[Sphagnum]], vegetable fiber, and some medium sized lumps of [[charcoal]], or mounted on plaques of vegetable fiber, however, if mounted, they will need more frequent waterings.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Baker, Charles O & Baker, Margaret L.</span> (2006) | Despite being easy to grow ''Aspasia'' species tent to be subject to spots on their thin leaves generally caused by [[fungus|fungi]] proliferation. They should never be exposed to full [[sunlight]]. They are not highly sensitive to [[temperature]] but as it varies according to their origin, ''A. lunata'' being the one that grows cooler and ''A. principissa'' the warmer grower all under intermediate or warm temperatures, when possible it is better to try to reproduce the temperature on their habitats. Also for watering it is important to verify the necessities of each species as they come from different environments. Despite they show a resting period after blooming, ''Aspasia'' always need to be watered, more abundantly during active growth. They need at least 75% of [[humidity]] and good [[ventilation]] all the time. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of half-chopped [[Sphagnum]], vegetable fiber, and some medium sized lumps of [[charcoal]], or mounted on plaques of vegetable fiber, however, if mounted, they will need more frequent waterings.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Baker, Charles O & Baker, Margaret L.</span> (2006). ''Aspasia'' in '''Orchid Species Culture''' Oncidium/Odontoglossum Alliance: 35-42, Timber Press. ISBN 9780881927757 </ref> | ||
==Taxonomic notes== | ==Taxonomic notes== | ||
The genus ''Aspasia'' was proposed by [[John Lindley]] in | The genus ''Aspasia'' was proposed by [[John Lindley]] in 1833 when he described its [[type species]], ''[[Aspasia epidendroides]]''. The name of the genus is a reference to [[Aspasia (Milesian woman)|Aspasia of Miletus]] a friend of [[Pericles]]. Its original description is very brief and mentions the plant was native in [[Panama]] and West Colombia. | ||
Being well defined from the start, ''Aspasia'' has never been a genus subject to disputes. Its only synonym is the genus ''Trophianthus'', proposed in 1844 by [[Scheidw.| Michael Scheidweiler]] to ''Aspasia lunata'', because of its slight differences from the other successive flowering species,<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Scheidweiler, Michael J.F.</span> (1844). ''Trophianthus zonatus'' in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung 12: 218.</ref> however, this genus was never largely accepted by taxonomists. Provided it was, today it would include also ''A. silvana''. Since its species was described, sixteen names have been submitted to ''Aspasia'', from these, seven are generally accepted as good species, two species remain unclear, six are considered synonyms of the accepted ones, and only one has been moved to another genus: ''A. pusilla'' was submitted to the genus ''[[Cischweinfia]]'', of which it is the | Being well defined from the start, ''Aspasia'' has never been a genus subject to disputes. Its only synonym is the genus ''Trophianthus'', proposed in 1844 by [[Scheidw.| Michael Scheidweiler]] to ''Aspasia lunata'', because of its slight differences from the other successive flowering species,<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Scheidweiler, Michael J.F.</span> (1844). ''Trophianthus zonatus'' in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung 12: 218.</ref> however, this genus was never largely accepted by taxonomists. Provided it was, today it would include also ''A. silvana''. Since its species was described, sixteen names have been submitted to ''Aspasia'', from these, seven are generally accepted as good species, two species remain unclear, six are considered synonyms of the accepted ones, and only one has been moved to another genus: ''A. pusilla'' was submitted to the genus ''[[Cischweinfia]]'', of which it is the type species.<ref name="Kew"><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">R. Govaerts, M.A. Campacci (Brazil, 2005), D. Holland Baptista (Brazil, 2005), P.Cribb (K, 2003), Alex George (K, 2003), K.Kreuz (2004, Europe), J.Wood (K, 2003, Europe)</span>: World Checklist of Orchidaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [http://www.kew.org/wcsp Published on the Internet.] (Access March 2009).</ref> | ||
''Aspasia principissa'' was described by Reichenbach based on a plant he received from Panama, in 1864,<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Reichenbach, Henrich G.<span style="font-variant:small-caps"> (1852). ''Aspasia principissa'' in Botanische Zeitungung 10(37): 637-638. Berlin.</ref> but considering it very close to ''A. epidendroides'', in 1949 [[P.H.Allen|Paul Hamilton Allen]] proposed it to be classified just as a variety of the later.<ref name="PHA"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Allen, Paul H.</span> (1949). ''A. epidendroides'' var. ''principissa'' in Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 36(2): 165. [http://www.botanicus.org/item/31753999990036 Published on the Internet.]</ref> | |||
Pasbt illustrated ''Aspasia silvana'' in ''Orchidaceae Brasilienses'' under the name ''Milpasia Leslie-Garay''. | Pasbt illustrated ''Aspasia silvana'' in ''Orchidaceae Brasilienses'' under the name ''Milpasia Leslie-Garay''. | ||
Two species, ''Aspasia lyrata'' and ''A. biberiana'', have not been seen again since their original collections and are not positively identified.<ref name="Cogn"><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Cogniaux, Celestin A.</span>(1902). ''Aspasia'' in Flora Brasiliensis K.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.) vol.3 p. 6: 203-7. [http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/search?taxon_id=6498 published on Internet.]</ref> Both have been described to Brazil. The first, originally described as ''Epidendrum lyratum'', in 1831, was observed by [[Vell.|José Maria da Conceição Velloso]] in Rio de Janeiro.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Velloso, José M.C.</span> (1831). ''Epidendrum lyratum'' in Florae Fluminensis 9: t. 37. Rio de Janeiro. [http://www.botanicus.org/item/31753000666062 Published on the Internet.]</ref> It shows more elongated pseudobulbs of rounder section, and its inflorescence is longer than the leaves with one small flower at the apex. Some taxonomists suppose it might be a natural hybrid, maybe of ''A. lunata'' with ''[[Miltonia regnellii]]'', | Two species, ''Aspasia lyrata'' and ''A. biberiana'', have not been seen again since their original collections and are not positively identified.<ref name="Cogn"><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Cogniaux, Celestin A.</span>(1902). ''Aspasia'' in Flora Brasiliensis K.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.) vol.3 p. 6: 203-7. [http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/search?taxon_id=6498 published on Internet.]</ref> Both have been described to Brazil. The first, originally described as ''Epidendrum lyratum'', in 1831, was observed by [[Vell.|José Maria da Conceição Velloso]] in Rio de Janeiro.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Velloso, José M.C.</span> (1831). ''Epidendrum lyratum'' in Florae Fluminensis 9: t. 37. Rio de Janeiro. [http://www.botanicus.org/item/31753000666062 Published on the Internet.]</ref> It shows more elongated pseudobulbs of rounder section, and its inflorescence is longer than the leaves with one small flower at the apex. Some taxonomists suppose it might be a natural hybrid, maybe of ''A. lunata'' with ''[[Miltonia regnellii]]'', or not an ''Aspasia'' at all. Providied it really is an ''Aspasia'', then it was the first to be described. The other species, ''Aspasia biberiana'', was described by [[Rchb.f.|Reichenbach]] to [[Pará]] State, in Amazon forest; it has solitary green flowers.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Reichenbach, Heinrich G.</span> (1854). ''Aspasia bibriana'' in Bonplandia 2: 90. Hanover.</ref> No known ''Aspasia'' from that area fits this description; apparently no taxonomist has checked the original description lately, therefore, more research is needed to positively identify this species. | ||
Molecular analysis show that ''Aspasia'' most closely related important genera are ''[[Miltonia]]'' and ''[[Brassia]]'', which are included in one of the eight clades that form the subtribus [[Oncidiinae]] of tribus [[Cymbidieae]].<ref name="NH"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Williams NH, Chase MW, Fulcher T, Whitten WM</span> (2001). ''Molecular systematics of the Oncidiinae based on evidence from four DNA sequence regions: expanded circumscriptions of Cyrtochilum, Erycina, Otoglossum, and Trichocentrum and a new genus (Orchidaceae)'' in '''Lindleyana 16(2)''': 113-139.</ref> | Molecular analysis show that ''Aspasia'' most closely related important genera are ''[[Miltonia]]'' and ''[[Brassia]]'', which are included in one of the eight clades that form the subtribus [[Oncidiinae]] of tribus [[Cymbidieae]].<ref name="NH"><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Williams NH, Chase MW, Fulcher T, Whitten WM</span> (2001). ''Molecular systematics of the Oncidiinae based on evidence from four DNA sequence regions: expanded circumscriptions of Cyrtochilum, Erycina, Otoglossum, and Trichocentrum and a new genus (Orchidaceae)'' in '''Lindleyana 16(2)''': 113-139.</ref> | ||
==Species== | ==Species== | ||
The | The species that exist on the Southeast of Brazil are the only two ''Aspasia'' to have a flat labellum. They can be easily separated from each other for ''A. silvana'' is a larger plant with longer rhizome and pseudobulbs that have an elongated base making them much taller than the ones of ''A. lunata''. The flowers of ''A. silvana'' are three times larger than the ones of ''A. lunata''.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Castro Neto, Vitorino P. </span> (2002). ''Aspasia silvana'' in Icones Orchidacearum Brasilienses vol 1. ISBN 8590149447</ref> Both species, like ''[[Miltonia spectabilis]]'' to which the slightly resemble, have just one flower, hardly ever two, per inflorescence. Both bloom from middle to the end of spring. | ||
All the other ''Aspasia'' species bloom in quick sucession. ''Aspasia variegata'' has the widest petals among all species and the general flower appearance is rounder than any, with sepals that do not curve much and are not as long as the others either, normally with a flatter labellum that shows short purple stripes. It blooms between the start of summer and middle fall and presents nice fragrance in the morning.<ref name="FL"/> | |||
''Aspasia epidendroides'' and ''A. principissa'' are similar but the later is less robust and with larger flowers than ''A. epidendroides''. Other less noticeable differences include: ''A. epidendroides'' has broad transverse markings on the lateral sepals, the column with an elliptic depression below the stigma and the apical half of the labellum is porrect while ''A. principissa'' has narrow longitudinal stripes on the lateral sepals, the column with an narrow linear groove below the stigma and the apical half of the labellum is not porrect.<ref name="PHA"/> | |||
''Aspasia omissa'' | ''Aspasia omissa'' | ||
''Aspasia psittacina'' | ''Aspasia psittacina'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
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Aspasia is an orchid genus closely related to Miltonia and Brassia formed by seven comparatively large species spread from South of Mexico to South of Brazil. Aspasia species have few medium size flowers of exquisite colors which are occasionally cultivated or used to produce artificial hybrids.
Distribution
Aspasia exist in four different areas of Central and South America. Some species are exclusively epiphyte on thick stems of the trees a low height, others live on branches where they get more light and a few occasionally appear as lithophytes.
Two species inhabit primarily Central America the most common is Aspasia epidendroides, that ranges from Mexico to Colombia from sea level to 1,100 meters of altitude but much more common up to 400 meters; and the other is Aspasia principissa, which exists from Colombia to Costa Rica, from sea level to 600 of altitude but often up to 150 meters. Exclusively from Colombia is Aspasia omissa, that is a species recently described whose the full range is not yet determined. Aspasia psittacina, endemic in Ecuador, can be found from sea level to 750 of altitude but is much more common up to 300 meters. Aspasia variegata is common in all Amazonian region,[1] from 200 to 1300 meters in Bolivia.
The last area occupied is the Brazilian southeast and south, reaching Bolivia and Paraguay, from 200 to 750 meters, by Aspasia lunata; and Aspasia silvana exclusively at Brazilian Serra do Mar mountains, from Rio de Janeiro to Bahia. These two, as Miltonia do, form large colonies, however, being not particularly common species, they are just occasionally found, mostly on areas of transition between shady forest and open areas both in rain forests and cloud montane forests.[2]
Aspasia lunata is primarily epiphyte on thick stems but often is found living over rock grooves covered by fallen leaves and humid forests where they never are exposed to straight sunlight. Aspasia variegata is found in open forests both in dry and flooded lands, then often on branches of the trees hanging over the waters.[3]
Description
Aspasia is a genus of comparatively robust plants intermediate of Brassia and Miltonia, to which it is morphologically closer although can be distinguished because its flowers show the labellum partially fused to the column up to the middle then abruptly folded down in a square angle.[4] They are characterized for often showing am elongated rhyzome, with thicker roots than Miltonia, with more elliptical or elongated and highly laterally flattened pseudobulbs, protected by some foliar steaths shorter than the leaves, and one or two apical leaves. These are articulated, basally conduplicate, ligulate sometimes with acute apex, thin and narrow, very malleable, light green colored. The inflorescence is erect or arching, shorter than the leaves and bares one to nine flowers sometimes showy, which open in quick sequence holding at least three of four opened at the same time.[1] The inflorescence shoots among the foliar steaths on the pseudobulbs bases.
The flowers vary according to the species. The petals from more elliptical to more acute, in some species wider than the sepals, in others narrower or similar in size and shape, from flat to concave. The labellum is fused to the inferior half of the column, seeming to emerge from there and thereafter becoming much wider; the blade varies from slightly to clearly three lobed, flat or reflected, fleshier on the center where they have calli or salient veins. The column is elongated, with or without small inferior auricles and presents a large apical anther with two hard yellow pollinia, stipe and viscidium.
Their flowers last for about ten days, however, as not all open at the same time it is common to have a plant blooming during a whole month. Pollination has not been observed and seems to be uncommon for few plants bearing fruits have been seen in nature, however, their floral morphology indicates the possibility of Euglossini bees pollinators.[2] When Aspasia species are used to produce artificial hybrids, the characteristic that seems to predominate is the low number of resulting flowers by inflorescence, prevailing even over the so floriferous Oncidium.
Despite being easy to grow Aspasia species tent to be subject to spots on their thin leaves generally caused by fungi proliferation. They should never be exposed to full sunlight. They are not highly sensitive to temperature but as it varies according to their origin, A. lunata being the one that grows cooler and A. principissa the warmer grower all under intermediate or warm temperatures, when possible it is better to try to reproduce the temperature on their habitats. Also for watering it is important to verify the necessities of each species as they come from different environments. Despite they show a resting period after blooming, Aspasia always need to be watered, more abundantly during active growth. They need at least 75% of humidity and good ventilation all the time. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of half-chopped Sphagnum, vegetable fiber, and some medium sized lumps of charcoal, or mounted on plaques of vegetable fiber, however, if mounted, they will need more frequent waterings.[5]
Taxonomic notes
The genus Aspasia was proposed by John Lindley in 1833 when he described its type species, Aspasia epidendroides. The name of the genus is a reference to Aspasia of Miletus a friend of Pericles. Its original description is very brief and mentions the plant was native in Panama and West Colombia.
Being well defined from the start, Aspasia has never been a genus subject to disputes. Its only synonym is the genus Trophianthus, proposed in 1844 by Michael Scheidweiler to Aspasia lunata, because of its slight differences from the other successive flowering species,[6] however, this genus was never largely accepted by taxonomists. Provided it was, today it would include also A. silvana. Since its species was described, sixteen names have been submitted to Aspasia, from these, seven are generally accepted as good species, two species remain unclear, six are considered synonyms of the accepted ones, and only one has been moved to another genus: A. pusilla was submitted to the genus Cischweinfia, of which it is the type species.[7]
Aspasia principissa was described by Reichenbach based on a plant he received from Panama, in 1864,[8] but considering it very close to A. epidendroides, in 1949 Paul Hamilton Allen proposed it to be classified just as a variety of the later.[9]
Pasbt illustrated Aspasia silvana in Orchidaceae Brasilienses under the name Milpasia Leslie-Garay.
Two species, Aspasia lyrata and A. biberiana, have not been seen again since their original collections and are not positively identified.[10] Both have been described to Brazil. The first, originally described as Epidendrum lyratum, in 1831, was observed by José Maria da Conceição Velloso in Rio de Janeiro.[11] It shows more elongated pseudobulbs of rounder section, and its inflorescence is longer than the leaves with one small flower at the apex. Some taxonomists suppose it might be a natural hybrid, maybe of A. lunata with Miltonia regnellii, or not an Aspasia at all. Providied it really is an Aspasia, then it was the first to be described. The other species, Aspasia biberiana, was described by Reichenbach to Pará State, in Amazon forest; it has solitary green flowers.[12] No known Aspasia from that area fits this description; apparently no taxonomist has checked the original description lately, therefore, more research is needed to positively identify this species.
Molecular analysis show that Aspasia most closely related important genera are Miltonia and Brassia, which are included in one of the eight clades that form the subtribus Oncidiinae of tribus Cymbidieae.[13]
Species
The species that exist on the Southeast of Brazil are the only two Aspasia to have a flat labellum. They can be easily separated from each other for A. silvana is a larger plant with longer rhizome and pseudobulbs that have an elongated base making them much taller than the ones of A. lunata. The flowers of A. silvana are three times larger than the ones of A. lunata.[14] Both species, like Miltonia spectabilis to which the slightly resemble, have just one flower, hardly ever two, per inflorescence. Both bloom from middle to the end of spring.
All the other Aspasia species bloom in quick sucession. Aspasia variegata has the widest petals among all species and the general flower appearance is rounder than any, with sepals that do not curve much and are not as long as the others either, normally with a flatter labellum that shows short purple stripes. It blooms between the start of summer and middle fall and presents nice fragrance in the morning.[1]
Aspasia epidendroides and A. principissa are similar but the later is less robust and with larger flowers than A. epidendroides. Other less noticeable differences include: A. epidendroides has broad transverse markings on the lateral sepals, the column with an elliptic depression below the stigma and the apical half of the labellum is porrect while A. principissa has narrow longitudinal stripes on the lateral sepals, the column with an narrow linear groove below the stigma and the apical half of the labellum is not porrect.[9]
Aspasia omissa Aspasia psittacina
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Freitas Luz, Francisco J. (2001). Orquídeas na Amazônia. Instituto Brasileiro de Cultura, Ed. On Line. ISBN 8520802087
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Miller, David; Richard Warren; Izabel Moura Miller & Helmut Seehawer (2006). Aspasia lunata in Serra dos Órgãos sua história e suas orquídeas, 326-7. Rio de Janeiro.
- ↑ Miranda, Francisco (2006). Orquídeas da Amazônia Brasileira: 168 & 173 Ed. Expressão e Cultura, 1996. ISBN 8520802087
- ↑ Hoehne, Frederico C. (1940). Introduction in Flora Brasílica, Vol 12-1: 37. Secretaria de Agricultura de São Paulo.
- ↑ Baker, Charles O & Baker, Margaret L. (2006). Aspasia in Orchid Species Culture Oncidium/Odontoglossum Alliance: 35-42, Timber Press. ISBN 9780881927757
- ↑ Scheidweiler, Michael J.F. (1844). Trophianthus zonatus in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung 12: 218.
- ↑ R. Govaerts, M.A. Campacci (Brazil, 2005), D. Holland Baptista (Brazil, 2005), P.Cribb (K, 2003), Alex George (K, 2003), K.Kreuz (2004, Europe), J.Wood (K, 2003, Europe): World Checklist of Orchidaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet. (Access March 2009).
- ↑ Reichenbach, Henrich G. (1852). Aspasia principissa in Botanische Zeitungung 10(37): 637-638. Berlin.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Allen, Paul H. (1949). A. epidendroides var. principissa in Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 36(2): 165. Published on the Internet.
- ↑ Cogniaux, Celestin A.(1902). Aspasia in Flora Brasiliensis K.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.) vol.3 p. 6: 203-7. published on Internet.
- ↑ Velloso, José M.C. (1831). Epidendrum lyratum in Florae Fluminensis 9: t. 37. Rio de Janeiro. Published on the Internet.
- ↑ Reichenbach, Heinrich G. (1854). Aspasia bibriana in Bonplandia 2: 90. Hanover.
- ↑ Williams NH, Chase MW, Fulcher T, Whitten WM (2001). Molecular systematics of the Oncidiinae based on evidence from four DNA sequence regions: expanded circumscriptions of Cyrtochilum, Erycina, Otoglossum, and Trichocentrum and a new genus (Orchidaceae) in Lindleyana 16(2): 113-139.
- ↑ Castro Neto, Vitorino P. (2002). Aspasia silvana in Icones Orchidacearum Brasilienses vol 1. ISBN 8590149447