Holcoglossum
(pronounced: hole-koh-GLOS-sum)
Classification
Vandeae subtribe Aeridinae
Overview
Monopodial epiphytes or lithophytes with coarse roots. Stems short or somewhat elongate. Leaves terete to subterete, alternate, distichous and arranged in a fan or spiral, fleshy. Inflorescences axillary racemes, rarely branching and paniculate, the floral bracts inconspicuous. Sepals and petals free, spreading, often clawed, the lateral sepals usually larger than other segments. Lip three-lobed, saccate to long-spurred, continuous with the column foot, the callus when present of parallel keels. Column straight, without wings; pollinia 2, porate, on a common stipe and viscidium.
Etymology
From the Greek holkos, meaning strap, and glossa, meaning tongue, in reference to the strap-shaped spur of some species.
Distribution
A genus of nine species from Northeast India and China to Indochina and Taiwan. Species of Holcoglossum were formerly included in Aerides and Vanda but differ by having terete or semiterete leaves, two porate pollinia, and different ecology as high elevat
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow larger plants of Holcoglossum in pots or baskets with a medium-grade epiphyte mixture. Grow miniature species in small pots or baskets with a fine-grade epiphyte mixture or on slabs with a pad of moisture-retaining material at the roots. Provide bright light, cool temperatures, and regular watering throughout the year. The roots of the larger species should dry out slightly between waterings.
Literature
Christenson, E. A. 1987. An infrageneric classification of Holcoglossum Schltr. (Orchidaceae: Sarcanthinae) with a key to the genera of the Aerides-Vanda alliance. Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 44(2):249-256. Christenson, E. A. 1995. Sarcanthine Genera 21: Holcoglossum Schltr. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 64(12):1346-1349. Christenson, E. A. 1998. Two new species of Holcoglossum Schltr. (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae) from China. Lindleyana 13(2):131-134. Lin, T.-P. 1974. The exceedingly beautiful flower of Holcoglossum. Taiwan Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(4):159-160. Teuscher, H. 1977. Holcoglossum quasipinifolium. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 46:806-808. Tsi, Z.-H. 1982. A study of the genus Holcoglossum of Orchidaceae. Acta Phytotax. Sinica 20:439-444.
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