Anoectochilus koshunensis

Anoectochilus koshunensis
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Genus:	Anoectochilus
Species:	A. koshunensis
Binomial name
Anoectochilus koshunensis Hayata
Synonyms[1]
Odontochilus koshunensis (Hayata) S.S.Ying

Anoectochilus koshunensis is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family native to Taiwan and to Nansei-shoto (Ryukyu Islands).^[1]

Description

Leaves are almost 8 cm long, with golden nerves, dark green, and slightly hairy. The spikes grow upwards with blooms in large intervals, facing down. They are usually white, with upper pink-red sepal and petals which form an eyelid. Lip base with a frayed edge. This kind of plant blooms mostly throughout the year, and is very much in demand for medical research once it has been reported that the local people on the island have used the plant to cure snake bite.^[2]

Anoectochilus koshunensis differs from all species of Anoectochilus by the mesochil which is not afforded with pectinatelobes, but instead has broadly entire wing-shaped lobes, by the columnal appendages which are doubly folded and beak-shaped at the apex, and by the triangular lateral lobes at the mouth of the spurs.^[3]

Anoectochilus koshunensishas thickened roots and a smooth solitary stem measuring 16 cm long by 3 mm, which become thick at the base. Simple pointed ruberous flowers, greasy-purple below, smooth above and pubescent near the base, leafless at the apex.^[3] Leaves alternating up to the middle of the stem, with 3-4 petiole, rounded-ovate blades measuring 2 1/2 cm long and 18 mm wide. Obtuse at the apex, acute at the base and round at the petiole.^[3] Smooth on both sides of the membranous 5 parallel nerves, reddish-purple underneath. Sheaths with petioles measuring 1 cm long, folded and slightly pubescent.^[3]

References