Vappodes
| Vappodes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cooktown Orchids showing flowers and bud | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Tribe: | Podochileae |
| Genus: | Vappodes M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones |
| Synonyms | |
|
Dendrobium | |
Vappodes is a genus of orchids from Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.
Taxonomy
Vappodes was separated from Dendrobium in 2002.[1] This name change is followed in Jones (2006)[2] Jones and Clements (2008). Vappodes bigibba is accepted as the correct name for Dendrobium bigibbum in the Australian Plant Census[3] and by the Australian Government's Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.[4]
- "The genus was recently segregated from Dendrobium, based on hard cylindrical pseudobulbs leafy in the upper third, multi-flowered racemes arising from the upper nodes and flowers with very broad petals and the labellum firmly fixed to the column foot."[5]
Distribution
There are about 8 species in the genus, with 4 endemic in Australia (V. bigibba, dicupha, lithocola, and phalaenopsis), with the rest found in Indonesia and New Guinea.[5]
Pollination
Mostly pollinated by insects, though some V. dicupha are self-pollinating.
Cultivation
Relatively easy to cultivate but need a warm, bright place with fairly high humidity. Can be grown in small pots or on hard slabs. Need lots of water while growing, but should be kept dry while dormant. Minimum temperature 12—15 °C.[5]
Species included in the genus
- Vappodes bigibba (Lindl. & Paxton) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones sensu CHAH (2005). Mauve Butterfly Orchid.
- Vappodes dicupha. White Butterfly Orchid.
- Vappodes lithocola (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones sensu CHAH (2005). Dwarf Butterfly Orchid.
- Vappodes phalaenopsis (Fitzg.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones sensu CHAH (2005). Cooktown Orchid.
Footnotes
- ↑ Clements, MA & Jones, DL 2002, "Nomenclatural changes in the Dendrobieae (Orchidaceae) 1: The Australasian region", The Orchadian, vol 13, pp. 485–497.
- ↑ Jones (2006), pp. 416-418.
- ↑ Online Australian Plant Census
- ↑ "Vappodes phalaenopsis — Cooktown Orchid"
- 1 2 3 Jones (2006), p. 417.
References
- Jones, David L. (2006). A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia Including the Island Territories. Reed New Holland. Sydney, Auckland, London, Cape Town. ISBN 1-877069-12-4.
External links
- Nature's Powerhouse website contains a gallery of Lewis Roberts' botanical illustrations including the Cooktown Orchid
- The "Australian Orchid Name Index" and "Australian Orchidaceae - Current Genera and Species Checklist" may be downloaded here as pdf files