Cleisocentron Explained

Cleisocentron is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.[1] It has a disjunct distribution, known from the Himalayas, Vietnam, China and Borneo.

Description

The species of this genus are tropical epiphytes with a pendent or erect habit. The leaves may be terete or broad. Both types of leaves may occur on the same specimen, as some species exhibit leaf polymorphy.[2] Three species have blue flowers, but other colours, such as pink and white also occur.

Etymology

The generic name is derived from the Greek kleistos meaning closed, as well as kentron meaning spur.[3] The name relates to the morphology of the spurred labellum.

Ecology

Pollination

There have been reports of pollination or visitation by ants, which was observed during field expeditions in Borneo.[4] [5] Alternatively, there have been speculations, that the nectariferous flowers are pollinated by butterflies.[6]

Species

Eight species are currently recognized:[7]

  1. Cleisocentron abasii Cavestro - Sabah
  2. Cleisocentron gokusingii J.J.Wood & A.L.Lamb - Sabah
  3. Cleisocentron kinabaluense Metusala & J.J.Wood - Sabah
  4. Cleisocentron klossii (Ridl.) Garay - Vietnam
  5. Cleisocentron malipoense (Z.J.Liu & L.J.Chen) R.Rice - Malipo, Yunnan, China [8]
  6. Cleisocentron merrillianum (Ames) Christenson - Sabah
  7. Cleisocentron neglectum M.J.Mathew & J.Mathew - India (Karnataka) [9]
  8. Cleisocentron pallens (Cathcart ex Lindl.) N.Pearce & P.J.Cribb - eastern Himalayas (Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, India)

Formerly included species

Horticulture

Cleisocentron is rarely found in cultivation. However, they are easy to cultivate.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Brühl, Paul Johannes. 1926. Guide to the Orchids of Sikkim 136
  2. Pridgeon, A., Cribb, P., Chase, M., & Rasmussen, F. (2014). "Genera Orchidacearum Volume 6: Epidendroideae (Part 3)." pp. 158-161 OUP Oxford.
  3. Teoh, E.S. (2021). Cleisocentron Bruhl.. In: Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 1 (A - E). pp 199–201. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58872-4_30
  4. Pugh-Jones, S. (2021, May 29). Cleisocentron gokusingii – 365 days of orchids – day 1616. WSBEorchids. Retrieved December 13, 2022, from https://wsbeorchids.org/2021/cleisocentron-gokusingii-365-days-of-orchids-day-1616/
  5. Robinson, J. (2022, March 9). PLANTS BEHAVING BADLY. KPBS Public Media. Retrieved December 13, 2022, from https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/may/02/plants-behaving-badly/
  6. Chase, M., Christenhusz, M., Mirenda, T., & Ivy Press (2017). "The Book of Orchids: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species from Around the World." p. 555. University of Chicago Press.
  7. Web site: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  8. Web site: Cleisocentron malipoense (Z.J.Liu & L.J.Chen) R.Rice | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.
  9. Web site: Cleisocentron neglectum M.J.Mathew & J.Mathew | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.
  10. 655737-1 . Robiquetia pachyphylla (Rchb.f.) Garay . 21 November 2022.

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