Calanthe triplicata

Calanthe triplicata (Willem.) Ames

Calanthe triplicata (Willem.) Ames; Photo by Galih Chersy Pujasatria

1907, Philipp. Joum. Sci. (Bot.) 2: 326: Seidenf., 1992, Opera Bot. 114: 94; P. H. Ho, 1993, 111. Fl. Vietnam 3, 2: 998, f. 9933; Aver., 1994, Ident. Guide Vietnam. Orch.: 105: Thin, 1997, Sida 17, 4: 756: Aver. & Averyanova, 2003, Updated Checkl. Orch. Vietnam:19: Soejarto et al., 2004, Seed plants CPNP: 446.

Synonyms.

Orchis triplicata Willem., 1796, Usteri Ann. Bot. 18: 52.

Limodorum veratrifolium Willd., 1S05, Sp. Pi. 4: 122.

Calanthe veratrifolia (Willd.) R. Br. ex Ker-Gawl., 1823, Bot. Reg. 9: t. 720; Gagnep., 1933, in Lecomte, Fl. Gen. Indo- Chine 6: 3S9.

Studied collections. 

16 June 1971, Tron, Khoi 664, CPXP 5138: 10 July 1971, Tron, Khoi 525, CPXP 5142; 2 May 1985, Averyanov etal., LA'-W1820; 1Jan.1994,MVX27;31July1999,XMC341;12 Dec.1999, DDS11317; 17April2002,XMC1623; 21 May 2002, Averyanov et al., HAL 1684; 13 July 2002, XMC 1684; 19 July 2000, P.K.Loc, P 10386: sinedate, Qung 136:sinedate, Tran, Khoi 525; sine date, Trong. Qit 664.

Description. 

Terrestrial herb 40—100 cm tall with short ovoid-conical clustered pseudobulbs and numerous thick fasciculate roots. Leaves 3—6, petiolate; petiole grooved, 10—20 cm long; leaf blade elliptic, acute, 20—60 by 5—12 cm. Inflorescence erect, leafless, terminal, many-flowered, shortly pubescent, 0.6—1.4 m tall, with few distant bracts. Floral bracts broadly-cuneate, acute, pubescent, 1—4 by 0.5—1 cm. Flowers widely opening, odorless, white, 2—3 cm across. Pedicel and ovary pubescent, 2.5—4.5 cm long. Sepals and petals, sometimes light greenish towrard tips, sub­ similar, elliptic-ovate, apiculate, 1.2—1.5 by 0.5—0.7 cm, petals slightly shorter. Lip spurred, 3-lobed, 1.3—1.8 by 1.3 cm, with yellow to bright red warty callus at the center. Side-lobes oblong, obtuse, spreading, slightly falcate, with obtuse divergent apices; mid-lobe deeply divided into 2 narrowly oblong, falcate diverging segments. Spur slender, recurved, 1.5—2.5 cm long. Column 5—7 mm tall. Fruit ellipsoid capsule, 4—5 by 2—2.5 cm.

Flowering time. 

April-May.

Geographic range. 

Tropical and subtropical Asia, N. Australia, islands of west Pacific-

Notes. 

One of most common, widespread terrestrial orchids in Vietnam. The species is a typical element of shady lowland wet forests, particularly on limestone. Ornamental and easy to grow in cultivation.

References:

Leonid V. Averyanov, Nguyen Tien Hiep, Phan Ke Loc, The orchids Of Cuc Phuong National Park Illustrated guide, ISBN: 9781626751514