Cyrtorchis Explained

Cyrtorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa.

Description

The species of the genus Cyrtorchis are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,[1] which do not have pseudobulbs.[2] The white, fragrant, star-shaped flowers are distinctly spurred.

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count of Cyrtorchis arcuata is 2n = 46.[3]

Physiology

Cyrtorchis is known to utilize the crassulacean acid metabolism, which entails photosynthesis during the daytime, and gaseous exchange through open stomata during the night. This enables the plant to save water.[4]

Etymology

The generic name Cyrtorchis is composed of the Greek words "kirtos" meaning curved and "orchis" meaning testicles, which refers to orchids.

Taxonomy

The genus has been proven to be monophyletic.[5]

Sections

The genus has been divided into the sections Cyrtorchis section Homocolleticon Summerh. and Cyrtorchis section Cyrtorchis based on differences in the shape of the viscidium. Originally the section Cyrtorchis was published as section Heterocolleticon Summerh., but it is now known as Cyrtorchis section Cyrtorchis.[6] [7] The section Homocolleticon is characterized by an uniformly textured viscidium,[8] in contrast to the viscidium of section Cyrtorchis, which consists of two distinct zones.[9]

The section Homocolleticon Summerh. was elevated to a genus by Szlach. & Olszewski in 2001, but Homocolleticon (Summerh.) Szlach. & Olszewski is now a synonym of Cyrtorchis Schltr.

Species

As of December 2022, there are 19 currently accepted species:[10]

  1. Cyrtorchis arcuata (Lindl.) Schltr.
  2. Cyrtorchis aschersonii (Kraenzl.) Schltr.
  3. Cyrtorchis brownii (Rolfe) Schltr.
  4. Cyrtorchis chailluana (Hook.f.) Schltr.
  5. Cyrtorchis crassifolia Schltr. in R.E.Fries
  6. Cyrtorchis erythraeae (Rolfe) Schltr.
  7. Cyrtorchis glaucifolia Summerh.
  8. Cyrtorchis guillaumetii (Pérez-Vera) R.Rice
  9. Cyrtorchis hamata (Rolfe) Schltr.
  10. Cyrtorchis henriquesiana (Ridl.) Schltr.
  11. Cyrtorchis injoloensis (De Wild.) Schltr.
  12. Cyrtorchis letouzeyi Szlach. & Olszewski
  13. Cyrtorchis monteiroae (Rchb.f.) Schltr.
  14. Cyrtorchis neglecta Summerh.
  15. Cyrtorchis okuensis Droissart, Azandi & M.Simo
  16. Cyrtorchis praetermissa Summerh.
  17. Cyrtorchis ringens (Rchb.f.) Summerh
  18. Cyrtorchis seretii (De Wild.) Schltr.
  19. Cyrtorchis submontana Stévart, Droissart & Azandi

Species formerly placed in Cyrtorchis

Ecology

Habitat

It grows in dense forests and rainforests, as well as in plantations. It is found growing on tree trunks and branches, which receive high levels of sunlight.[13] In addition to epiphytic growth, it can also grow as a lithophyte attached to rocks.

Pollination

Several hawk moth species of the genus Hippotion have been identified as likely pollinators of Cyrtorchis okuensis.[14] The white flowers shift to an orange pollination after pollination or senescence. Such post-pollination behaviour is not uncommon, and it may be explained by a reduced attractivity of flowers to pollinators,[15] [16] [17] if the flowers are no longer viable.

Conservation

Two species, namely Cyrtorchis letouzeyi Szlach. & Olszewski and Cyrtorchis henriquesiana (Ridl.) Schltr., have been categorized as species of least concern (LC) under the IUCN Red List criteria.[18] [19] Cyrtorchis arcuata subsp. arcuata has been categorized as a Least Concern species by the Red List of South African Plants.[20] Another species, Cyrtorchis glaucifolia Summerh., has been categorized as an endangered (EN) species under the IUCN Red List criteria,[21] and Cyrtorchis okuensis Droissart, Azandi & M.Simo is categorized as Near Threatened (NT).

Horticulture

Cyrtorchis is easy to cultivate in well drained substrate.[22] Cyrtorchis arcuata is most commonly found in private collections.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2022). Flora of Mozambique: Genus page: Cyrtorchis. https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=444, retrieved 25 December 2022
  2. Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2022). Flora of Malawi: Genus page: Cyrtorchis. https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=444, retrieved 25 December 2022
  3. Cyrtorchis arcuata. (n.d.). Hortus Orchis. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://www.hortusorchis.org/en/botanical-orchids/107-c/1256-cyrtorchis-arcuata.html
  4. Töpfer, N., Braam, T., Shameer, S., Ratcliffe, R. G., & Sweetlove, L. J. (2020). "CAM emerges in a leaf metabolic model under water-saving constraints in different environments." bioRxiv.
  5. Schuiteman, A. (2018). "Orchid Research Newsletter No. 71."
  6. Azandi, L., Droissart, V., Sonké, B., Simo-Droissart, M., & Stévart, T. (2018). "The genus Cyrtorchis in Central Africa with a focus on its two sections." Orchids, 87(1), 48-55.
  7. Cribb, P. (2017). "Flora of Tropical East Africa: Orchidaceae (Part 3)." p. 226. CRC Press.
  8. Leth, C. (n.d.). Cyrtorchis section Homocolleticon. African Orchids. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/higher-epidendroideae/tribe-vandeae/subtribe-aerangidinae-from-a-m/cyrtorchis
  9. Leth, C. (n.d.). Cyrtorchis section Cyrtorchis. African Orchids. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/higher-epidendroideae/tribe-vandeae/subtribe-aerangidinae-from-a-m/cyrtorchis
  10. 325748-2 . Cyrtorchis Schltr. . 23 December 2022.
  11. 77203323-1 . Ypsilopus amaniensis (Kraenzl.) D'haijère & Stévart . 1 January 2022.
  12. 615807-1 . Ancistrorhynchus refractus (Kraenzl.) Summerh. . 1 January 2022.
  13. Cyrtorchis aschersonii (Kraenzl.) Schltr. (2022, July 5). African Plant Database. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/44969
  14. Azandi, L. N., Stévart, T., Sonké, B., Simo-Droissart, M., d'Haijère, T., & Droissart, V. (2021). "Taxonomic description and pollination ecology of Cyrtorchis okuensis (Orchidaceae, Angraecinae), a new species endemic to the Cameroon Volcanic Line." Plant Ecology and Evolution, 154(3), 483-496.
  15. Weiss, M. R., & Lamont, B. B. (1997). "Floral color change and insect pollination: a dynamic relationship." Israel Journal of Plant Sciences, 45(2-3), 185-199.
  16. Ruxton, G. D., & Schaefer, H. M. (2016). Floral colour change as a potential signal to pollinators. Current opinion in plant biology, 32, 96-100.
  17. Dalström, S., Gyeltshen, N., & Höijer, T. (2010). Phalaenopsis taenialis: a case of split personality. Orchids, 79(8), 468-471.
  18. Simo-Droissart, M., Stévart, T. & Droissart, V. 2021. Cyrtorchis letouzeyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T87585357A87740052. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T87585357A87740052.en. Accessed on 26 December 2022.
  19. Simo-Droissart, M., Stévart, T. & Droissart, V. 2021. Cyrtorchis henriquesiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T87585350A87740047. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T87585350A87740047.en. Accessed on 26 December 2022.
  20. Foden, W. & Potter, L. 2005. Cyrtorchis arcuata (Lindl.) Schltr. subsp. arcuata. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2022/12/26
  21. Rokni, S., Matimele, H.A., Alves, M.T., Chelene, I., Darbyshire, I., Datizua, C., De Sousa, C., Langa, C., Massingue, A.O., Mucaleque, P.A., Odorico, D., Osborne, J., Rulkens, A.J.H., Timberlake, J. & Viegas, A. 2018. Cyrtorchis glaucifolia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T120961124A120980358. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T120961124A120980358.en. Accessed on 26 December 2022.
  22. Leth, C. (n.d.). Genus Cyrtorchis. African Orchids. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/higher-epidendroideae/tribe-vandeae/subtribe-aerangidinae-from-a-m/cyrtorchis
  23. De Vidi, G. (2010, December 10). Il genere Cyrtorchis. Orchids.it. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://www.orchids.it/2010/12/10/il-genere-cyrtorchis/

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