Holcoglossum (Holc.[2]) is a genus of orchids, in the family Orchidaceae. It is native from Assam through mainland China to Taiwan and Indo-China.[1][3]

Holcoglossum
Holcoglossum kimballianum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Vandeae
Subtribe: Aeridinae
Genus: Holcoglossum
Schltr.
Type species
Holcoglossum quasipinifolium
Synonyms[1]
  • Ascolabium S.S.Ying
  • Chenorchis Z.J.Liu, K.W.Liu & L.J.Chen
  • Paraholcoglossum Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & L.J.Chen
  • Pendulorchis Z.J.Liu, K.Wei Liu & G.Q.Zhang
  • Penkimia Phukan & Odyuo
  • Tsiorchis Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & L.J.Chen

Description

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All species of this genus are perennial epi- or lithophytes and are characterized by a short monopodial shoot axis with terete or cross-sectionally triangular leaves. The upper side forms a groove with the folded edges of the leaves. The leaves are tapered and not notched at the leaf tip. The root tips of living roots show a reddish color in all species of the genus, and some species also have red-spotted foliage. The flowering stem emerges laterally from the shoot axis and forms two or more flowers, which are far apart and form a raceme or inflorescence.

The flowers are white and wide open. The lip is three-lobed. The lateral lobes are erect and dotted adaxially. The central part is spread out over a large area and is parallel to the gynostemium. The lip is shaped to allow potential pollinators to depress the middle lip. The flowers have an elongated spur, which is strongly reduced in the subgenus Brachycentron. The gynostemium has a large scar area. The stamen contains two separate pollina. The stipes connecting the pollina and the adhesive disc (Viscidium) bend in the middle when removed from the rostellum. The rostellum is deeply incised.[4] The number of chromosomes is 2n = 38 in almost all species. Holcoglossum tsii has 76 chromosomes in the diploid chromosome set (2n = 76).[5]

Self-pollination has been observed in Holcoglossum amesianum, in which the pollina moves independently to the fertile stigma in the column.[6]

Species

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As of July 2024, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[1]

Image Name Distribution Elevation (m)
  Holcoglossum amesianum (Rchb.f.) Christenson, 1987 Yunnan, Assam, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia 1,200–1,600 metres (3,900–5,200 ft)
  Holcoglossum auriculatum Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & X.H.Jin, 2005 Yunnan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand
  Holcoglossum clausum K.P.Wojtas, C.Bandara & Kumar 2024 Myanmar
Holcoglossum calcicola Schuit. & P.Bonnet, 2009 Laos
  Holcoglossum flavescens (Schltr.) Z.H.Tsi, 1982 Fujian, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan 1,200–2,000 metres (3,900–6,600 ft)
  Holcoglossum himalaicum (Deb, Sengupta & Malick) Aver. 1988 Yunnan, Myanmar 1,800–2,100 metres (5,900–6,900 ft)
  Holcoglossum kimballianum (Rchb.f.) Garay 1982 Yunnan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos 1,200–1,800 metres (3,900–5,900 ft)
Holcoglossum × kunmingense D.K.Zhao, Ze Zhang & Rui B.Wang 2022 (H. flavescens × H. tsii) Yunnan
  Holcoglossum lingulatum (Aver.) Aver. 1990 Guangxi, Yunnan, Vietnam 1,000–1,300 metres (3,300–4,300 ft)
  Holcoglossum linearifolium Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & L.J.Chen 2011 Yunnan 1,500–2,000 metres (4,900–6,600 ft)
Holcoglossum nagalandense (Phukan & Odyuo) X.H.Jin 2012 Assam (Nagaland) to China (W. Yunnan) and Vietnam 1,600–2,000 metres (5,200–6,600 ft)
  Holcoglossum nujiangense X.H.Jin & S.C.Chen 2007 publ. 2008 Yunnan 2,500–3,000 metres (8,200–9,800 ft)
Holcoglossum omeiense X.H.Jin & S.C.Chen 2005 Sichuan 700–1,000 metres (2,300–3,300 ft)
  Holcoglossum phongii (Aver.) Aver. & O.Gruss 2016 Vietnam 50–150 metres (160–490 ft)
  Holcoglossum pumilum (Hayata) L.J.Chen, X.J.Xiao & G.Q.Zhang 2013 Taiwan 1,000–2,300 metres (3,300–7,500 ft)
  Holcoglossum quasipinifolium (Hayata) Schltr. 1919 Taiwan 1,800–2,800 metres (5,900–9,200 ft)
  Holcoglossum rupestre (Hand.-Mazz.) Garay 1972 Yunnan 2,000–2,400 metres (6,600–7,900 ft)
Holcoglossum semiteretifolium (Seidenf.) R.Rice 2018 Arunachal Pradesh to N. Thailand
  Holcoglossum singchianum G.Q.Zhang, L.J.Chen & Z.J.Liu 2013 Yunnan 1,300–1,500 metres (4,300–4,900 ft)
  Holcoglossum sinicum Christenson 1987 Yunnan 2,600–3,200 metres (8,500–10,500 ft)
  Holcoglossum subulifolium (Rchb.f.) Christenson 1987 Hainan, Yunnan 1,000–2,200 metres (3,300–7,200 ft)
  Holcoglossum tsii T.Yukawa 2000 Sichuan, Yunnan
  Holcoglossum wangii Christenson 1988 Yunnan, Guangxi, Vietnam 250–1,200 metres (820–3,940 ft)
Holcoglossum watsonii (Rolfe) J.M.H.Shaw 2021 Vietnam
Holcoglossum weixiense X.H.Jin & S.C.Chen 2003 Yunnan 2,500–3,000 metres (8,200–9,800 ft)

Distribution

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The native distribution area of the genus is Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, Tibet, south-central and south-east China, Hainan, Taiwan, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1] Many of the species come from the Yunnan province in the south-west of the People's Republic of China. Holcoglossum quasipinifolium and Holcoglossum pumilum are endemic to Taiwan. The species live at higher altitudes between 1200 m and 3300 m and thus prefer a cool to cold habitat.[citation needed]

Cultivation

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The small species from this genus can be cultivated in small pots or baskets or tied to cork plates. Native of cool, damp woods, they require low temperatures and a light spot. In full sun, however, there is a risk of heat build-up. The plants often need water during the growth phase, and less frequent watering during the resting phase without letting them dry out. For a pot culture, the substrate should be quite fine in order to be able to nourish the tender roots.

The large species of the subgenus Brachycentron and section Holcoglossum can be cultivated in a tether but are best suited to basket or pot culture. An exception is Holcoglossum subulifolium, which is better tied up due to its hanging growth. If regular watering is ensured, these species are best cultivated in a basket without substrate. Any substrate used should be very coarse in texture to allow good air circulation at the roots. The plants need a very bright but also cool location. They should be watered regularly, with drier periods during dormancy. In the Meise Botanic Garden, Holcoglossum kimballianum are kept in an alpine greenhouse, where you have to condense your own breath and wear a parka. In nature, the plants are regularly exposed to hoarfrost during the flowering period, which they survive without any problems.

A successful culture often fails because the culture is permanently too warm or because the substrate is too fine, in which the roots die off due to the lack of air.

Intergeneric hybrids

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The following intergeneric hybrids with Holcoglossum are listed with the Royal Horticultural Society.[citation needed]

  • ×Holcocentrum (Holcoglossum × Ascocentrum)
  • ×Holcenda (Holcoglossum × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
  • ×Holcosia (Holcoglossum × Luisia)
  • ×Holcanthera (Holcoglossum × Renanthera)
  • ×Holcodirea (Holcoglossum × Sedirea)
  • ×Holcopsis (Holcoglossum × Vandopsis)
  • ×Holcostylis (Holcoglossum × Rhynchostylis)
  • ×Holcovanstylis (Holcoglossum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
  • ×Mendelara (Holcoglossum × Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
  • ×Vandoglossum (Holcoglossum × Vanda)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Holcoglossum Schltr." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  2. ^ "Alphabetical list of standard abbreviations of all generic names occurring in current use in orchid hybrid registration as at 31st December 2007" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society.
  3. ^ Flora of China v 25 p 499, 槽舌兰属 cao she lan shu, Holcoglossum Schlechter, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 4: 285. 1919.
  4. ^ JIN, XIAO-HUA (2005). "Generic delimitation and a new infrageneric system in the genus Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 149 (4). Oxford University Press (OUP): 465–468. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00463.x. ISSN 1095-8339.
  5. ^ JIN, XIAO-HUA; ZHANG, TING; GU, ZHI-JIAN; LI, DE-ZHU (2007). "Cytological studies on the genus Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 154 (2). Oxford University Press (OUP): 283–288. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2007.00654.x. ISSN 1095-8339.
  6. ^ Liu, Ke-Wei; Liu, Zhong-Jian; Huang, LaiQiang; Li, Li-Qiang; Chen, Li-Jun; Tang, Guang-Da (2006-06-21). "Self-fertilization strategy in an orchid". Nature. 441 (7096): 945–946. doi:10.1038/441945a. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 16791185. S2CID 4382904. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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