Miltonia phymatochila
Miltonia phymatochila | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Genus: | Miltonia |
Species: | M. phymatochila
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Binomial name | |
Miltonia phymatochila (
Lindl.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase[1] | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Miltonia phymatochila, synonym Phymatochilum brasiliense, is an orchid species native to northeast and southeast Brazil.[1] It is an inhabitant of the Serra do Mar mountains. It vegetatively resembles Oncidium species rather than other Miltonia species and was at one time placed as the only species in the genus Phymatochilum.
Description
Miltonia phymatochila presents a large number of robust, long and simple or slightly branched roots shooting from a highly short and robust rhizome which gives birth to aggregated pseudobulbs. The pseudobulbs are erect, smooth and light green when young and later minutely wrinkled and brownish green, very robust and large, which may vary form slightly fusiform to the most common rounded shape although clearly flattened that bears one leaf only At the base the pseudobulbs are protected by four large distichous, carinated, imbricating and subequitant bracts, the longest of them the same length of the pseudobulb.[2] The leaf is erect, slightly concave and curved, leathery and thick, rigid despite somewhat flexible, meaning it will not break when it is slightly curved; at the base it is folded; green on the face, presenting numerous nervures, paler and brownish on the back where it shows a salient medium nerve. The inflorescence is basal, slender, pale green with subtle minute purple dots, highly alternately branched and large, sometimes bearing hundreds of flowers placed at regular distances.
The flowers have a rounded but slightly triangular
Miltonia phymatochila does not have many morphological characteristics in common with other species of Miltonia. It has much more robust pseudobulbs and leaves, which also are of different color and shapes. The rhizome is shorter; the psudobulbs closer to each other, much fleshier and more fibrous, almost rounded, darker. The leaves are much wider, leathery, thicker, darker and clearly veined, in all with an aspect that reminds the one of Maxillaria setigera. The inflorescence is branched, almost three times taller than the leaves, bearing more than a hundred small Oncidium type flowers.
Taxonomic notes
Measures (mm) | ||
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Structure | Length | Width |
Rhizome | 15 | 15 |
Leaf | 500 | 100 |
Pseudobulb | 100 | 70 |
Inflorescence | 1800 | - |
Flower | 50 | 25 |
Sepal | 35 | 3 |
Petal | 25 | 3 |
Labellum | 18 | 12 |
For some unknown reason there is a number of original descriptions by
Miltonia phymatochila, whose flowers are very similar to the ones of Oncidium was in fact considered a member of this genus until 2001 when, based on the results of their molecular analysis, it was moved by
Molecular analysis shows that Miltonia phymatochila is most closely related to the genus
Distribution and habit
Miltonia phymatochila is a comparatively large sympodial epiphyte species which inhabits high areas of the
Cultivation
Miltonia phymatochila is not hard to grow. Their roots are somewhat sensitive excessive humidity therefore it is important they are potted in a well-drained substrate and placed in a warm and well ventilated location at the greenhouse. As they show a rest period after blooming, it is beneficial to reduce watering while they are not in active growth period, and resume abundant watering again during active growth. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of vegetable fiber and some medium-sized lumps of charcoal. As they usually inhabit sunny areas they enjoy a good amount of light, although never full sunlight, therefore the best place for them is the sunnier in the greenhouse, the same where the Cattleya are.[10]
References
- This article incorporates material from the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License but not under the GFDL.
- ^ a b c "Miltonia phymatochila (Lindl.) N.H.Williams & M.W.Chase". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Hooker, William J. (1903). Oncidium phymatochilum in Curtis Botanical Magazine 86(3): 16 t.5214. London. Published on Internet.
- ^ Cogniaux, Célestin Alfred (1903). Oncidium phymatochilum in Flora Brasiliensis 3-6: 384-5. K.F.P. von Martius Ed. Published on Internet, in Latin.
- ^ Govaerts, Rafaël et al.: World Checklist of Orchidaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on Internet (Access in March 2009).
- ^ Lindley, John (1848). Oncidium phymatochilum in Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette 1848: 139. England.
- ^ Williams, Norris H. & Chase, Mark W. (2001). Miltonia phymatochila in Lindleyana 16: 284.
- ^ Christenson, Eric A. (2005). Phymatochilum brasiliense in Richardiana 5: 195.
- ^ Williams NH, Chase MW, Fulcher T, Whitten WM (2001). Molecular systematics of the Oncidiinae based on evidence from four DNA sequence regions: expanded circumscriptions of Cyrtochilum, Erycina, Otoglossum, and Trichocentrum and a new genus (Orchidaceae) in Lindleyana 16(2): 113-139.
- OCLC 634493252
- ^ ISBN 978-0-88192-775-7