Leptotes (plant)
Leptotes | |
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Leptotes bicolor | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Tribe: | Epidendreae |
Subtribe: | Laeliinae |
Genus: | Leptotes Lindl. 1833 |
Type species | |
Leptotes bicolor Lindl., 1833
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Leptotes, abbreviated Lpt in horticultural trade, is a genus of
Some species of Leptotes are widely cultivated and form showy displays when completely in bloom although they are not among the easiest to grow. The majority of the species are not cultivated and some are so rare to be almost unknown; five of the nine species have been described since 2000. Besides being cultivated for their ornamental value, there are records of the flowers and fruits of Leptotes bicolor being used as a substitute for vanilla in milk, ice cream, tea and candies.[1]
Distribution
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Sandstone_cliffs_close_to_Analandia.jpg/220px-Sandstone_cliffs_close_to_Analandia.jpg)
The species of Leptotes were originally discovered in the
The species in the group that are characterized by wide open flowers, such as Leptotes tenuis and L. pauloensis, are more frequently found in
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Leptotes_distribution_map.png/220px-Leptotes_distribution_map.png)
Species assigned to the genus Leptotes have a short cylindrical
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Leptotes.jpg/220px-Leptotes.jpg)
The appearance of the
The agent for the pollination of Leptotes has never been observed. Cássio van den Berg postulates, judging from the colors and morphology of the flowers, that bees are the primary agent,[2] while other orchidologists suspect pollination by hummingbirds is more important.[3]
As the roots of Leptotes rot easily with excessive humidity, the best results for their culture are achieved when they are mounted on plaques of vegetal fiber or tree cork. Watering and fertilizer must be more frequent during active growth periods and less during dormant periods. Ideal growth conditions require an intermediate temperature and exposure to filtered sunlight.[5]
Taxonomic notes
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Leptotes_bicolor_-_Edwards_vol_19_pl_1625_%281833%29.jpg/220px-Leptotes_bicolor_-_Edwards_vol_19_pl_1625_%281833%29.jpg)
In April 1833, an unknown species from the
In 1838, Lindley received two similar but distinct plants, collected in
In 1865,
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Loefgrenianthus_blancheamesiae.jpg/220px-Loefgrenianthus_blancheamesiae.jpg)
While living in Brazil, the Danish Botanist
Consequently, as of 2004, four species of Leptotes were known, three sufficiently different that they can be regarded as well established species, L. bicolor, L. unicolor and L. tenuis, and one, L. pauloensis, that is becoming more frequently accepted by taxonomists.
A recent explosion of descriptions has more than doubled the size of this genus, however, the history of these discoveries starts much earlier. In 1954, one of the associates of Círculo Paulista de Orquidófilos, an orchid society in São Paulo, presented a lecture where he talked informally about the innumerable varieties of Leptotes that he had collected throughout the years. This lecture was printed and distributed in the bulletin of the association.[19] In 2004, Eric Christenson identified at least two of the several varieties mentioned in the lecture to be existing in collections throughout the United States and decided to describe them formally as independent species. One of these plants, Leptotes harryphillipsii, is very similar to L. pauloensis already a problematic species by itself.[20] The other one, L. mogyensis, is unknown to Brazilian scholars and collectors. The sole example is the plant Christenson found in the US, supposedly originated from Mogi das Cruzes, a city nearby São Paulo.[21]
Two other new species described in 2004 belong to the affinity of Leptotes bicolor and were both found by the same surveyor in the region of Buerarema, south of Bahia. Leptotes bohnkiana, named after its finder, can be differentiated because it has a significantly smaller stature,[22] the other, L. pohlitinocoi, mostly by color.[23]
Finally, in 2006 Sidney Marçal de Oliveira discovered the last species to be described, also from Bahia, although an inhabitant of Chapada Diamantina too. This new species, Leptotes vellozicola, is quite distinct from the other species.[24]
According to Cássio van den Berg et al., who studied their phylogeny, Leptotes is very closely related to Loefgrenianthus and both situated between Pseudolaelia and the genus which once used to be classified as Schomburgkia, by some now considered part of Laelia.[25]
Species
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Leptotes_bicolor_097.jpg/220px-Leptotes_bicolor_097.jpg)
The three main characteristics that differentiate between the species of Leptotes are the general proportions of the leaves, the shape of the flowers, and the way the flowers open. From these, the species can be classified into two main groups.
One group is formed by the four species with flowers of elongated segments, which generally are not widely open. These species present malleable inflorescences that leave the flowers slightly or very overthrown, frequently facing down. Almost all the species of this group have long leaves, of comparatively lighter tones, generally with smooth surfaces, that are longer than the inflorescences.
- Leptotes unicolor is the exception in this group, as it has short, wrinkly and dark leaves. Its flowers, of generally uniform pale pink, always face down. The other species of this group have flowers of stronger colors.[26]
- Leptotes bicolor is the species with more flowers per inflorescence and with a wider distribution. It is a variable species, even though it is easily identified because of its bicolored flowers, white sepals and petals and purple lip; occasionally it will bear two leaves per pseudobulb. There are some records of this species living as a lithophyte.[3]
- Leptotes bohnkiana has some similarities to L. bicolor, however, its flowers are one third of the size, with petals and sepals that are proportionally wider, and the adult plant is about half the size. It bares a single flower per inflorescence and has only been found in Bahia.[22]
- Leptotes pohlitinocoi is closer to L. bicolor but has slightly smaller flowers with all segments completely pink. It only exists in Bahia.[27]
The other group is formed by five smaller species that have more rounded flowers with petals and sepals that are wide open and flatter. The leaves are shorter wrinkly leaves, generally very dark green or purple colored. The species of this group often have only one or two flowers on each inflorescence. Four of them are very similar and sometimes difficult to distinguish.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Leptotes_harryphilllipsii_003.jpg/220px-Leptotes_harryphilllipsii_003.jpg)
- Leptotes vellozicola is the only easily recognizable species in this group as it has a thick central callus next to the apex of the lip petal. It is the only species of this group endemic to Bahia, the other species are from southeast and south Brazil. This species, among all Leptotes, takes the most sunlight in the wild because it is epiphytic on Vellozia, a species with very few leaves. The region where it lives is much drier compared to the areas inhabited by the other species.[24]
- Leptotes tenuis is the only Leptotes species with pale green, yellowish or white flowers and lilac colored lip. It is a very small and uncommon species from southeastern Brazil.[28]
- Leptotes pauloensis is a species very similar to L. tenuis and can be separated from it mainly by the opposite distribution of color between the lip and the other sepals and petals, namely, pale lilac petals and sepals and white lip with a yellowish cream mark in the middle. Its distribution overlaps L. tenuis but extends much more into the south.[29]
- Leptotes harryphillipsii, another species similar to L. tenuis, but with a slightly longer lip and discrete pink stripes on the other petals and sepals, which typically have more vibrant colors. It seems this species has been known for long time but had always been confused with L. pauloensis.[20]
- Leptotes mogyensis, yet another species related to the L. tenuis group and also resembles L. unicolor except it has white flowers with a deep purple central mark on the lip. There is no record of this plant in the wild. All information comes from a plant found under cultivation in a nursery in California, USA. It might be a rare natural hybrid of the two mentioned species.[21]
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.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-850712-3.
- ^ a b c Miller, David; Richard Warren; Izabel Moura Miller & Helmut Seehawer: Serra dos Órgãos sua história e suas orquídeas, p. 240. Rio de Janeiro, 2006.
- ISBN 0-88192-269-2
- ISBN 978-0-19-850712-3.
- ^ Lindley, John: Leptotes bicolor in Edward's Botanical Register Vol.19, t.1625. James Ridgway & Sons Ed. London, 1833. Published on internet.
- ^ Lindley, John: Leptotes serrulata in Sertum orchidaceum, t.11. James Ridgway & Sons Ed. London, 1838. Published on internet.
- ^ Hoffmannsegg, Johann Centurius von: Leptotes glaucophylla in Botanische Zeitung Vol.1, p. 833. Berlin, 1843.
- ^ ISBN 0-88192-269-2
- ^ Govaerts, Rafaël et al: World Checklist of Orchidaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on Internet (Access in January 2009).
- ^ Reichenbach, Heinrich Gustav: Leptotes tenuis in Hamburger Garten Blumenzeitung Vol.21, pp. 296. Hamburg, 1865.
- ^ Barbosa Rodrigues, João: Leptotes unicolor in Genera et species orchidacearum novarum Vol.1, p.74. 1877. Published on Internet, in French and Latin.
- ^ Barbosa Rodrigues, João: Leptotes paranaensis in Genera et species orchidacearum novarum Vol.2, pp.163. 1881. Published on Internet, in French and Latin.
- ^ ISBN 3-87105-010-6
- ^ Rolfe, Robert Allen: Leptotes minuta in Gardeners' Chronicle Vol.1889-2: p. 323. London, 1889.
- ^ Cogniaux, Célestin Alfred: Leptotes in Flora Brasiliensis Vol.3 Part.6: pp. 254-259. K.F.P. von Martius Ed., 1903. Published on Internet, in Latin.
- ^ Loefgren, Johan Albert Constantin: Leptotes blanche-amesiae in Arquivos do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro Vol.2: p. 58. Rio de Janeiro, 1918.
- ^ Hoehne, Frederico Carlos: Loefgrenianthus in Arquivos de Botânica do Estado de São Paulo Vol.1: p. 593. São Paulo, Julho de 1927.
- ^ Krackowizer, F. J.: Monografia do gênero Leptotes in Revista do Círculo Paulista de Orquidófilos Vol.11, pp. 53-63 e 64-72. São Paulo, 1954.
- ^ a b Christenson, Eric A.: Leptotes harryphillipsii in Orchids South Africa Vol.35, pp. 53. Cape Town, 2004.
- ^ a b Christenson, Eric A.: Leptotes mogyensis in Orchids South Africa Vol.35, pp. 54. Cape Town, 2004.
- ^ ISSN 1519-4590.
- ^ Vitorino P. Castro Neto & Chiron, Guy: Leptotes pohlitinocoi in Richardiana Vol.4: p.78. Paris, 2004.
- ^ a b Van den Berg, Cássio et al: Leptotes vellozicola em Neodiversity Vol.1, pp. 2, 2006. Published on internet. Archived 2009-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Van den Berg, Cássio et al: A Phylogenetic analysis of Laellinae based on sequence data from internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA in Lindleyana vol.15-2, pp. 96–114, 2000. Published on Internet[permanent dead link].
- ISBN 950-9725-41-2
- ISBN 85-901494-4-7
- ISBN 85-901494-4-7
- ISBN 85-901494-4-7
- Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.C. & Rasmussen, F.N. (2006). Epidendroideae (Part One). Genera Orchidacearum 4: 271 ff. Oxford University Press.