Aspasia (orchid)
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 Aspasia epidendroides
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| Aspasia epidendroides Lindl. 1832 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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:
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 Aspasia principissa, from Colombia to Costa Rica from sea level to 600 of altitude but much more common up to 150 meters. Also from exclusively from Colombia is Aspasia omissa. Aspasia psittacina, endemic in Ecuador, can be found from sea level to 750 of altitude but much more common up to 300 meters. Aspasia variegata is common[1] in all amazonic region from 200 to 1300 meters in Bolivia. The last area occupied is Brazilian southeast and south, reaching Bolivia and Paraguay, from 200 to 750 meters, by Aspasia lunata; and Aspasia silvana exclusively Brazilian Serra do Mar, 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.[2]
Some species are exclusively epiphyte on the thick stems of the trees a low height, others live on branches where they get more light,
Aspasia lunata is epiphyte on thick stems and 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 and can be distinguished because its flowers show the labellum partially fused to the column.[4]
Aspasia species are characterized for ofter 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 from behind the foliar steaths at 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 and there showing calli or salient veins. The column is elongated, with or without small inferior auricles and present a large apical anther with two hard yellow pollinia, stipe and viscidium.
Their flowers last for about ten days, although 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 have been seen bearing fruits in nature but their floral morphology indicates the possibility of Euglossini bees pollinators.[2] When these species are used to produce artificial hybrids, the characteristic that seems to predominate is the few amount 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 much sensitive to temperature but 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. It is important to verify the conditions of culture to each species as they come from different environments. Despite they show a rest 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 1832 when he described its type species, Aspasia epidendroides. The name of the genus is a reference to Aspasia of Miletus a friend of Pericles.
Aspasia lyrata and A. biberiana are not positively identified.
Pasbt illustrated Aspasia silvana in Orchidaceae Brasilienses under the name Milpasia Leslie-Garay.
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.[6]
Species
The two species that exist on the Southeast of Brazil are the only Aspasia to have a flat labellum. The can be easily separated 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.[7] 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.
The other species bloom in quick sucession.[1] Aspasia epidendroides Aspasia lunata Aspasia principissa Aspasia omissa Aspasia psittacina Aspasia silvana Aspasia variegata blooms between the start of summer and middle fall and presents nice fragrance in the morning.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 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
- ↑ 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