Calanthe ceciliae Rchb.

Kurzweil, Hubert, 2010, A precursory study of the Calanthe group (Orchidaceae) in Thailand, Adansonia (3) 32 (1), pp. 57-107 : 84-88

18. Calanthe ceciliae Rchb. f.

Gardeners’ Chronicle, n.s., 19, 1883: 432 (1883); Seidenfaden, Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 29: 19 (1975); Comber, Orchids of Java : 95 (1990); Seidenfaden & Wood, The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: 169 (1992); Comber, Orchids of Sumatra: 271 (2001). — Type: Peninsular Malaysia, Low s.n. (not known) .

Calanthe burmanica Rolfe , Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information Kew 1907: 129 (1907). — Type: Myanmar, Shan State, without collector (holo-, K!).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. —? Northern, Nan, Sapan Waterfall, 6.VII.2001, Srisanga 1956 ( QBG [fragment]). — Peninsular, Phangnga, Sra Nang Manora, 16.X.2006, Pumicong 495 ( QBG, QBG spirit). — Peninsular, Phangnga, 11.III.1930, Kerr 0801 (C, C spirit, K). — Peninsular, Krabi, Kow-Pra Bahng Krahm Wildlife Sanctuary, 8.VIII.2006, Maxwell 06-536 ( CMU [Sc], CMU [Sc] spirit). — Peninsular, Krabi, Phanom Bencha, 13.IX.1983, Seidenfaden & Smitinand 9346 (C spirit). — Peninsular, Pattani, Bukit, 24.I.1931, Put 3606 (K). — Peninsular, Narathiwat, Waeng, 16.VIII.1995, Larsen et al. 45660 ( AAU, BKF, QBG). —?Peninsular, Narathiwat, Hala- Bala, 12.VII.1995, Niyomdham 4468 ( BKF [largely eaten]) (fide Thaithong). — Without locality, Puudjaa 22 ( BKF spirit); without collector 02-2007-498 ( QBG spirit) .

ILLUSTRATIONS. — Seidenfaden, Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 29: fig. 5a-c (1975); Comber, Orchids of Java: pl. on pages 94 and 95 (1990); Seidenfaden & Wood, The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: fig. 72b, c, pl. 9c (1992) [incorrectly labelled as Calanthe sylvatica (Thouars) Lindl. ]; Comber, Orchids of Sumatra: pl. on page 271 (2001).

DESCRIPTION

Terrestrial herbs, evergreen, 35-54(-100) cm tall. Basal sheath 1, glabrous, to 10 cm long. Pseudobulbs inconspicuous and largely enclosed by the leaves, close together, several-noded. Leaves 2-5, perennial, lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, acute, 30-35 × 5-9.2(-11.2) cm, upper surface glabrous, lower surface usually hairy; petioles 7-12.5 cm long. Inflorescences arising from the base of the leafy shoot, sparsely hairy; peduncles 29-48 cm long; sterile bracts 3-4, inserted half-way up the flowering stem and one or two at its base, erect, suberect or the upper spreading, lanceolate-oblong, acute, 0.8- 1.3 cm long, glabrous or hairy, the lower sheathing; raceme semi-dense or dense, 10- to 12-flowered; rachis (3-) 6-9.8 cm long, light green or dull purple; floral bracts persistent, broadly ovate-lanceolate, acute or subacute, 6-9.8 × 4.5-5.5 mm, much shorter than the pedicel plus the ovary, hairy. Flowers 20- 30 mm across, purple or white flushed with purple and turning yellow at age, gynostemium recorded as white or purple. Ovary indistinguishable from the pedicel, (29-) 32-35 mm long, sparsely hairy. Sepals spreading, ovate-elliptic, obtuse or acute, 3- or 5-veined, glabrous; median sepal 12.5-16 × 6-9.3(-9.7) mm; lateral sepals 13-17 × 5.5-9 mm. Petals obovate-elliptic, spathulate, obtuse or subacute, 5-veined, (12.5-)13-15 × 7.3-8 mm, glabrous. Lip 3-lobed, (20-) 21-23 mm long, base completely united with the gynostemium, spurred, glabrous; midlobe deeply emarginate to bipartite, apical sinus narrow, each lobule broadly oblong, 6-8.8(-10) × 8-12(-16) mm, margins erose; side lobes spreading and pointing to the sides, oblong, widening from the base, to 12 × 5.3 mm, margins entire; with a papillate callus at the base; spur cylindric, pointing upwards, 30-52 mm long. Gynostemium 4.5-6 mm long. Fruits not seen.

DISTRIBUTION AND PHENOLOGY

In Thailand known from the Peninsula, with one doubtful collection made in the North. Generally widespread in Myanmar and SW Malesia. Found in evergreen rainforest with bamboo on sandy acid soil, also in freshwater swamp forest, from 75 to 400 m. Limestone has been recorded as bedrock. Flowering from March to October .

REMARKS Similar to Calanthe triplicata but distinguished by the long upwards-pointing spurs, the purple or white and purple-tinted flowers and the orientation of the lip side lobes which are not forwards-pointing.

19. Calanthe triplicata (Willemet) Ames ( Figs 6 ; 7 )

Philippine Journal of Science, C 2: 326 (1907); Seidenfaden & Smitinand, The Orchids of Thailand – A Preliminary List, part IV, 2: 793 (1965); Seidenfaden, Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 29: 15 (1975); Seidenfaden, Nordic Journal of Botany 6: 161 (1986); Comber, Orchids of Java: 94 (1990); Seidenfaden, Opera Botanica 114: 94 (1992); Seidenfaden & Wood, The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: 169 (1992); Comber, Orchids of Sumatra: 273 (2001); Pearce & Cribb, Flora of Bhutan 3 (3): 293 (2002); Chen et al., Flora of China, vol. 25: 302 (2009). — Orchis triplicata Willemet, Annalen der Botanik (Usteri) 18: 52 (1796). — Iconotype: Rumphius, Herb. Amboin. 6: t. 52, fig. 2 [as Flos triplicata ] (1750)!

Limodorum veratrifolium Willd. , Species Plantarum 4: 122 (1805). — Calanthe veratrifolia (Willd.) R.Br. ex Ker Gawl. , Botanical Register 9: pl. 720 (1823); Hooker, Flora of British India 5: 851 (1890); Seidenfaden & Smitinand, The Orchids of Thailand – A Preliminary List, part III: 337 (1961); Seidenfaden & Smitinand, The Orchids of Thailand – A Preliminary List, part IV, 2: 793 (1965). — Amblyglottis veratrifolia (Willd.) Blume, Bijdragen : 370 (1825). — Type: Indonesia, West Java, Mt. Salak, based on Pre-Linnean names (not known).

Calanthe furcata Bateman ex Lindl. , Edwards’s Botanical Register 24: 28 (1838). — Alismorkis furcata (Bateman ex Lindl.) Kuntze, Revisio Generum Plantarum 2: 650 (1891). — Type: Philippines, Luzon , Cuming s.n. (holo-, K!).

Calanthe diploxiphion Hook. f., Flora of British India 5: 849 (1890). — Alismorkis diploxiphion (Hook.f.) Kuntze, Revisio Generum Plantarum 2: 650 (1891). — Type: Peninsular Malaysia, Perak, Goping, Kings collectors 6014 (holo-, SING!; iso-, L!).

Calanthe anthropophora Ridl. , Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums 5: 167 (1915), syn. nov.; Seidenfaden & Smitinand, The Orchids of Thailand – A Preliminary List, part III: 335 (1961); Seidenfaden, Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 29: 19 (1975). — Type: Thailand, hills of Ko Samui , 7.V.1913, Robinson 5701 (holo-, K!).

Calanthe pubescens Ridl. , Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information Kew 1923: 117 (1923); Seidenfaden & Wood, The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: 169 (1992). — Type: Peninsular Malaysia, Bukit Besar, in forest, 600 m, Gwynne-Vaughan 261 (holo-, K!).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Northern, Chiang

Mai, Doi Suthep, 21.VI.1914, Kerr 94 (C); 13.VI.1957,

Khantchai 599 (BKF); Seidenfaden & Smitinand 2220 (C

spirit); 18.V.1958, Sørensen et al. 3539 (C). — Northern,

Chiang Mai, Doi Saket , 24.V.1993, Maxwell 93-488

(CMU [Sc], CMU [Sc] spirit, L). — Northern, Chiang

Mai, Mae Awn, 16.VI.2005, Maxwell 05-392 (CMU

[Sc], CMU [Sc] spirit). — Northern, Chiang Mai,

Omkoi, Seidenfaden & Smitinand 5024 (C spirit). —

Northern, Chiang Rai, BCU Herb.Tr. 1751 (BCU, BCU

spirit). — Northern, Lampang, Jae Sawn National Park ,

21.VI.1996, Maxwell 96-832 (CMU [Sc], CMU [Sc]

spirit, L). — Northern, Tak, Doi Hua Mot, 25.V.1933,

Garrett 780 (BKF). — Northern, Tak, Huay Khao Laem,

Seidenfaden & Smitinand 7340 (C spirit). — North-

ern, Tak, Seidenfaden & Smitinand 7343 (C spirit) . —

North-Eastern, Phetchabun, Nam Nao , 6.VI.1981 ,

Seidenfaden & Smitinand 8720 (C spirit); 22.V.1985,

8768 (C spirit); 21.V.1984, 8774 (C spirit); 21.V.1951,

Smitinand 492 (BKF). — North-Eastern, Loei, Phu

Krading, 8.VIII.1966, Bunchuai 172 (BKF). — Eastern,

Chaiyaphum, Ban Nam Phrom , 23.V.1974, Geesink et al .

6856 (BKF, C, L). — Eastern, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khao

Yai, Seidenfaden & Smitinand 5810 (C spirit). — Eastern,

Nakhon Ratchasima, Asa s.n. ( BKF SN076343) . —

South-Western, Kanchanaburi, between Kritee and

Meung Chah, 9.VII.1973, Geesink & Phengklai 6213

(BKF, C, L). — South-Western, Kanchanaburi, Thong

Pha Phum, Sakol 2644 (BK); 8.VI.2002, v.d. Bult 555

(BKF, CMU [Sc], CMU [Sc] spirit). — South-Western,

Kanchanaburi, Sisawat , Seidenfaden & Smitinand 4206 (C spirit); 18.V.1962, Kasem 146 ( BK). — Central , Nakhon Nayok, Khao Yai, 9.IV.2004, Buakhlai 18 ( BCU spirit, BKF); 11.X.1999, Chongko 42 ( BKF, CMU [Sc], CMU [Sc] spirit, L); Seidenfaden & Smitinand 5868 (C spirit). — South-Eastern , Prachin Buri, Thaithong 1353 ( BCU spirit). — South-Eastern , Chon Buri, Siricha District , 18.IV.1976, Maxwell 76-240 ( AAU, BK, L). — South-Eastern , Chon Buri, Khao Khieo , 22.IV.1971, Smitinand & Thephasdin 11488 ( BKF). — South-Eastern , Chanthaburi, Doi Soi Dao Nue , 13.V.1974, Geesink et al. 6753 ( BKF, C, L). — South-Eastern , Chanthaburi, Soi Dao , 14.V.1974, Maxwell 74-497 ( AAU, BK). — South-Eastern , Chanthaburi, Khao Soi Dao , 23.I.1956, Smitinand 3230 ( BKF). — Peninsular , Surat Thani, Ko Samui , 9.IV.1927, Kerr 0395 (B, BK, C, K, L). — Peninsular , Surat Thani, Ko Pha-ngan , 2.VI.1927, Put 749 (B, BK, C, L). — Peninsular , Krabi, Khao Phanom Bencha , 26.III.1930, Kerr 0807 ( BK, C, L); Williams et al. 1890 ( BKF spirit). — Peninsular , Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khao Kai Chang, 28.III.1953, Phloenchit 489 ( BKF). — Peninsular , Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khiriwong, Suvarnakoses 1890 ( BKF). — Peninsular , Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khao Luang , 24.V.1968, v. Beusekom & Phengklai 997 ( BKF, C, L). — Peninsular , Nakhon Si Thammarat, 14.III.2006, Khunwasi 027 ( BCU). — Peninsular , Phattalung, Khao Boo-Khao Yah National Park , 13.VI.1987, Maxwell 87-553 ( BKF, BKF spirit, CMU, L, PSU). — Peninsular , Satun, Khao Keo Range , 12.III.1928, Kerr 0531 ( BK, C, K, L). — Peninsular , Pattani, Khao Kala Kiri, 31.III.1928, Kerr 0553 ( BK, C, K, L). — Unspecified, Khao Yai, Cumberlege 818 ( BKF spirit); 19.V.1965, Phengklai 1048 ( BKF); Seidenfaden & Smitinand 5753 (C spirit). — Without locality, 29.V.2006, Pumicong 288 ( QBG, QBG spirit); without collector and number ( BCU spirit 009071) .

ILLUSTRATIONS. — Seidenfaden & Smitinand, The Orchids of Thailand – A Preliminary List, part III: fig. 258a, b (1961) [as Calanthe veratrifolia (Willd.) R.Br. ex Ker Gawl. ]; Seidenfaden & Smitinand, The Orchids of Thailand – A Preliminary List, part IV, 2: pl. XXXVII (5810) (1965); Seidenfaden, Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 29: fig. 3a, b, pl. I (1975); Seidenfaden, Dansk Botanisk Arkiv 29: fig. 4 (1975) [as C. anthropophora Ridl. ]; Comber, Orchids of Java: pl. on page 94 (1990); Seidenfaden & Wood, The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: fig. 73a, b, pl. 9d (1992); Seidenfaden & Wood, The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: fig. 72d, e (1992) [as C. pubescens Ridl. ]; Comber, Orchids of Sumatra: pl. on page 273 (2001); Pearce & Cribb, Flora of Bhutan 3 (3): pl. 11 (2002).

DESCRIPTION

Terrestrial or epilithic herbs, evergreen, 50-90 (-150) cm tall. Basal sheaths few, to 3.5 cm long,

glabrous, sometimes decayed at the flowering time. Pseudobulbs inconspicuous and largely enclosed by the leaves, ovoid, conical, to 2 cm long, close together, several-noded. Leaves (2-)3-6, perennial, ellipticoblong, acuminate, (28-)36-66 × 4.4-15 cm, upper surface glabrous or with scattered hairs, lower surface hairy or glabrous; with grooved petioles (5-) 8-26 cm long. Inflorescences erect, arising from the base of the leafy shoot, pubescent; peduncles 50-68(-100) cm long; sterile bracts 3-6, scattered along the flowering stem and a few clustered at its base, erect, suberect or spreading, lanceolate-oblong, acute or subacute, 1.8-6.2 cm long, hairy, the lower sheathing; raceme semi-dense or dense, many-flowered; rachis 4-20 cm long; floral bracts persistent, broadly ovatelanceolate, acute or subacute, 7-33 × (3-) 6-15 mm, much shorter than the pedicel plus the ovary, hairy, margins entire. Flowers to 50 mm long and 28 mm across, white with pale green tips on the sepals, once reported as greyish (Bunchuai 172), once reported as yellow-green (v.d. Bult 555), always with yellow, red or rarely pink callus on the lip base, flowers turning blue when damaged or with age; sepals and petals lying in one plane and often facing backwards; flowers once reported as scented (Bunchuai 172). Ovary indistinguishable from the pedicel, 29-55(-60) mm long, hairy. Sepals obovate-lanceolate, acuminate or apiculate, often mucronate, mucros to 3 mm long, 3- or 5-veined, 9.8-18 × 3-8.8 mm, hairy especially on the outside. Petals obovate-elliptic, obtuse or truncate, sometimes apiculate, 3-veined, 8.2-15.5 × 2-6(-8) mm, sometimes with scattered hairs, indistinctly clawed. Lip 14-22 mm long, deeply 3-lobed and the midlobe further divided, base completely united with the gynostemium, spurred, hairy at the base but glabrous above; midlobe bipartite with two elongate and spreading lobules, sinus acute and often with a tiny tooth, apical incision 4-6 mm deep, each lobule oblong, pointing forwards, 5-12 × 1.3-4(-6) mm, apex obtuse or truncate; side lobes obliquely oblong, spreading and pointing forwards, obtuse, 5-7(-10) × 2-4(-7) mm; disc with a callus at the base, consisting of a number of wart-like papillae; spur cylindric, sparsely hairy, more or less parallel to the pedicel,18-27(-48) mm long, sometimes apically bifid.Gynostemium 4-7(-9) mm long, sparsely hairy. Fruits ellipsoid, 28-35 × 13-15 mm.

DISTRIBUTION AND PHENOLOGY

This is the most common Thai Calanthe species , and is widespread and common throughout the country. Generally one of the most widespread species in the genus, ranging from Madagascar and adjacent islands through the whole of tropical and subtropical Asia to New Guinea, E Australia and the Pacific Ocean Islands. The Thai populations are found in evergreen forest with bamboo, often near streams and frequently on rocks, from 200 to 1400 m. Recorded over granite, sandstone and limestone. Flowering mainly from March to July, but also recorded in October.

REMARKS

Calanthe triplicata is well characterised with its white flowers which have a lip with four spreading lobes (side lobes and the deeply bipartite midlobe) and a mostly yellow or orange callus at the base. The species is very variable in floral and vegetative characters, but the variation appears to be continuous and infraspecific taxa can apparently not be recognized. However, many of the variations have received formal names in the past as is suggested by the long list of synonyms.

In Thailand there is extensive variation in the spur length which ranges from 18 to 48 mm. As shown in Figure 7 the spur lengths of either under 22 mm or over 30 mm are the more common situation, but the occurrence of several intermediate forms suggests that a recognition of infraspecific taxa on the basis of the spur length is not justified. Interestingly, the spur length in Thailand appears to be geographically linked as spurs of 18 to 22 mm length are mainly found in the Thai Peninsula while those above 22 mm are more common in the continental parts of Thailand (Northern, North-Eastern, Eastern, South-Western, Central and South-Eastern regions).

As already pointed out by Seidenfaden (1975: 19) Calanthe anthropophora Ridl. , only known from the type collection made in Ko Samui (Surat Thani Province), does not differ significantly from C. triplicata . It is here considered synonymous with the latter.

The collection Smitinand 3230 is atypical in its flowers as the lobules of the lip midlobe and the lip side lobes are narrowly triangular-lanceolate and subacute at their apex.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Calanthe triplicata (Willemet) Ames:A, inflorescence;B, flower.A,Garrett 780; B, Seidenfaden & Smitinand 7343. Reproduced with permission from the University of Copenhagen, drawn by Kai Olsen. Scale bars: A, 5 cm; B, 1 cm.

FIG. 7. — Spur length in various Thai specimens of Calanthe triplicata (Willemet) Ames.Black bars, continental populations (Northern, North-Eastern, Eastern, South-Western, Central and South-Eastern regions); white bars, populations in the Thai Peninsula; striped bars, locality unknown; GT, collections made by Gunnar Seidenfaden and Tem Smitinand.