Prosthechea karwinskii

Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H.Shaw, Orchid Rev. Suppl., 119(1294): 38 (2011).

Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H.Shaw, Photo by Hiroaki Sasaki

Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H.Shaw, Photo by Orquídeas silvestres de Valle de Bravo y colección privada.

its native range is Mexico (México State, Oaxaca). 

Latin Name: 

Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H.Shaw 

Family: 

Orchidaceae Juss.

Synonym:

Cattleya karwinskii Mart.

Euchile karwinskii (Mart.) Christenson

English Name:

Karwinski's Euchile (Hungarian Plant Collector in Mexico and Brazil early 1800's).

Description: 

With with clustered, pendant, ovoid, conical or fusiform pseudobulbs enveloped by white sheaths and carrying 2 to 4 towards the apex, elliptic, obtuse or acute, gray-green leaves that blooms in the spring on a pendent, 20 cm long, or the length of the leaves, single to 2 flowered inflorescence and carry a very fragrant flowers with a scent of lemon.

Distribution:

Mexico Central, Mexico Southwest.

Ecological:

It is found growing in light shade in oak and pine forests at elevations of 1300 to 2600 m as a small sized, pendant, epiphytic, cool to cold growing epiphyte or terrestrial.

Flowering times:

Bloome in the spring.

Flower size:

8.8 cm

Cultivation:

Plants grow in cool to intermediate conditions and can be grown in medium size fir bark with perlite. Plant prefers drying periods between watering and bright light is recommended. Lengthen drying period a bit in the winter.

Typus:

Type Information: Distribution Of Types: Brazil (Southern America)

Chemical and Pharmacology:

Most compounds, such as quinic acid, malic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, embelin, pinellic acid, and azelaic acid, were reported to exhibit antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activity. The extract was also found to inhibit reactive oxygen species in the ex vivo model. Unlike other anti-inflammatory drugs, the extract exerted a dual effect: anti-inflammatory activity and protection of the gastric mucosa. The results showed that the extract could significantly inhibit the release of nitric oxide without a dose-response relationship.

Use:

Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H. Shaw is a Mexican orchid used in traditional medicine by some indigenous communities to treat issues related to inflammation (cough, wounds, burns, and diabetes)

Reference: 

- theplantlist.org

- https://www.ipni.org/n/77112469-1

- http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77112469-1

-  http://www.orchidspecies.com/euchkarwinski.htm. 

- http://www.orchidspecies.com/catpulchrum.htm.

- Barragan, Gabriela & Lagunez-Rivera, Luicita & Gómez, Rodolfo & Pineda Peña, Elizabeth & Landa-Juárez, Arizai & Chávez-Piña, Aracely & Carranza Alvarez, Candy & Hernández Benavides, Diego. (2020). Prosthechea karwinskii, an orchid used as traditional medicine, exerts anti-inflammatory activity and inhibits ROS. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 253. 112632. 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112632. 

- https://orchids.fandom.com