Holcoglossum wangii

Kingdom: Plantae  Division: Magnoliophyta  Class: Liliopsida  Order: Asparagales  Family: Orchidaceae  Subfamily: Epidendroideae  Tribe: Vandeae  Subtribe: Aeridinae

Holcoglossum wangii Christenson 1998 is an epiphytic plant, one which grows on another plant or object, found in the coniferous forests of southern China and northern Vietnam.  These plants are found at elevations around 250 to 1200m.  H.wangii grows as an inflorescence, a group of flowers on a stem.  The flowers are small, usually 2in or less, and are white with yellow-lobes and pinkish/purple specks.  The leaves are fleshy and terete (cylindrical and tapering) and comes in two forms: short-leaf (6in) and long-leaf (12-18in).  Mature plants typically reach 10-12in but can flower as small as 4in.  Seedlings are 4-6in.

H.wangii is best grown when mounted on a stick or in a basket.  They require cool to intermediate temperatures and moderate sunlight.  They should be grown in a moist and well drained environment but if hung, the roots should be watered frequently.  They bloom in the fall and winter.

Inflorescence of flowers

Flower of H.wangii

Specimen used for DNA extraction

References:

http://orchids.wikia.com/wiki/Holcoglossum_wangii

http://www.orchidspecies.com/holcowangii.htm

http://www.jlorchids.com/catalog/all_others3.html

Ceratochilus biglandulosus

Ceratochilus biglandulosus   Blume is a small member of the subtribe Aeridinae found growing on mossy trees at high elevation in Java and Sumatra. Ceratochilus is one of several monotypic genera in the Aeridinae.  This means that it currently only contains one species.   The succulent leaves are roughly 1.5 – 2 cm in length while the bright white, crystalline flowers, produced one per inflorescence, are about 3.75 cm wide.

Small orchid species with comparatively large showy flowers are popular with connossieur orchid collectors and, as such, C. biglandulosus is not difficult to obtain from US orchid vendors.   However, it can sometimes be a challenge to maintain as it does not tolerate long periods of dryness or to be overly wet.   Therefore, regular watering and a well draining media are optimal.  This species prefers bright shade and intermediate to warm temperatures.

Using both plastid and nuclear sequences, Hidayat and co-workers (2005) suggested that Ceratochilus was a member of the “Trichoglottis alliance” along with the genera Staurochilus, Trichoglottis, Vandopsis, and Ventricularia.

specimen used for DNA extraction

http://galerie.orchideen-forum.de/albums/userpics/10003/ceratochilus_biglandulosus.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://orchids.wikia.com/wiki/Ceratochilus_biglandulosus

http://www.orchidspecies.com/ceratbiglandulous.htm

Hidayat, T., T. Yukawa and M. Ito. 2005.  Molecular phylogenetics of subtribe Aeridinae (Orchidaceae): insights from plastid matK and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences.  Journal of Plant Research 118: 271-284.