Leptotes (orchid): Difference between revisions
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'''''Leptotes''''' is a genus of [[orchid]]s formed by nine species of [[Brazil]] which exist in the dry jungles of South and Southeast, and also in [[Paraguay]] or [[Argentina]]. They are small [[epiphytic]] plants of [[caespitific]] growth, that sometimes resemble little ''[[Brassavola]]'', as they share same type of thin terete leaves, however they are more closely related to ''[[Loefgrenianthus]]''. | '''''Leptotes''''' is a genus of [[orchid]]s formed by nine small species of [[Brazil]] which exist in the dry jungles of South and Southeast, and also in [[Paraguay]] or [[Argentina]]. They are small [[epiphytic]] plants of [[caespitific]] growth, that sometimes resemble little ''[[Brassavola]]'', as they share same type of thin terete leaves, however, they are more closely related to ''[[Loefgrenianthus]]''. | ||
Some species of ''Leptotes'' are widely cultivaded and form showy displays when completely in bloom, yet the majority of species are not commonly found under cultivation, some are rare or even almost completely unknown. Five species have only been described after year 2000. They are not included among the orchids easiest to grow. Beside being cultivated for their ornamental value, there are records of eventual uses of the flowers and fruits of ''[[Leptotes bicolor]]'' as milk, ice cream, tea and candies aromatizers instead of ''[[Vanilla]]''.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Lawler, L.J.</span>: ''Ethnobotany of the Orchidaceae'' in '''Orchid biology:reviews and perspectives, Vol.3'''. J. Arditti Ed., Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1984.</ref> | Some species of ''Leptotes'' are widely cultivaded and form showy displays when completely in bloom, yet the majority of species are not commonly found under cultivation, some are rare or even almost completely unknown. Five species have only been described after year 2000. They are not included among the orchids easiest to grow. Beside being cultivated for their ornamental value, there are records of eventual uses of the flowers and fruits of ''[[Leptotes bicolor]]'' as milk, ice cream, tea and candies aromatizers instead of ''[[Vanilla]]''.<ref><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Lawler, L.J.</span>: ''Ethnobotany of the Orchidaceae'' in '''Orchid biology: reviews and perspectives, Vol.3'''. J. Arditti Ed., Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1984.</ref> | ||
==Distribution== | |||
The species of ''Leptotes'' are originary from [[Atlantic Forest]] of Brazil, two species also found in other countries, ''L. unicolor'' in Argentina, and ''L. bicolor'' in Paraguay, always living epiphyticaly. Three species show high degree of [[endemism]] in the south of [[Bahia]] State, these do not exist in any other places. The distribution of one species is only an assumption. The states southeastern of Brazil are the ones that present the highest level of species occurrence, however, the extreme limits of distribution range from the Serra da Jibóia chain of mountains, in Bahia, to the North of [[Rio Grande do Sul State]]. <ref name="CBGO"><span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Van den Berg, Cássio</span>: ''Leptotes'' in '''Genera Orchidacearum Vol.4''', p. 273. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 9780198507123.</ref> | |||
The species of the group of wide open flowers, as ''Leptotes tenuis'' and ''L. pauloensis'', are more frequent in in cloud mountain forests. ''L. bicolor'' is the species most spread out and adaptated both to cloud mountanin forests and to the dryer woods of plateaus above of [[Serra do Mar]] chain of Mountains. ''Leptotes unicolor'' is a plant from coller areas, above 700 meters of altitude, frequently found growing on [[Araucaria]] and ''[[Podocarpus]]'' trees in the Southern areas of Brazil.<ref name="CBGO"/> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 17:03, 18 February 2009
Leptotes is a genus of orchids formed by nine small species of Brazil which exist in the dry jungles of South and Southeast, and also in Paraguay or Argentina. They are small epiphytic plants of caespitific growth, that sometimes resemble little Brassavola, as they share same type of thin terete leaves, however, they are more closely related to Loefgrenianthus.
Some species of Leptotes are widely cultivaded and form showy displays when completely in bloom, yet the majority of species are not commonly found under cultivation, some are rare or even almost completely unknown. Five species have only been described after year 2000. They are not included among the orchids easiest to grow. Beside being cultivated for their ornamental value, there are records of eventual uses of the flowers and fruits of Leptotes bicolor as milk, ice cream, tea and candies aromatizers instead of Vanilla.[1]
Distribution
The species of Leptotes are originary from Atlantic Forest of Brazil, two species also found in other countries, L. unicolor in Argentina, and L. bicolor in Paraguay, always living epiphyticaly. Three species show high degree of endemism in the south of Bahia State, these do not exist in any other places. The distribution of one species is only an assumption. The states southeastern of Brazil are the ones that present the highest level of species occurrence, however, the extreme limits of distribution range from the Serra da Jibóia chain of mountains, in Bahia, to the North of Rio Grande do Sul State. [2]
The species of the group of wide open flowers, as Leptotes tenuis and L. pauloensis, are more frequent in in cloud mountain forests. L. bicolor is the species most spread out and adaptated both to cloud mountanin forests and to the dryer woods of plateaus above of Serra do Mar chain of Mountains. Leptotes unicolor is a plant from coller areas, above 700 meters of altitude, frequently found growing on Araucaria and Podocarpus trees in the Southern areas of Brazil.[2]
References
- ↑ Lawler, L.J.: Ethnobotany of the Orchidaceae in Orchid biology: reviews and perspectives, Vol.3. J. Arditti Ed., Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1984.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Van den Berg, Cássio: Leptotes in Genera Orchidacearum Vol.4, p. 273. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 9780198507123.