Tainia
(pronounced: TAY-nee-ah)
Classification
Arethuseae subtribe Bletiinae
Overview
Creeping terrestrials, rarely epiphytes. Pseudobulbs erect, cylindric to ovoid, concealed by scarious bracts, unifoliate. Leaves elliptic-ovate, decurrent to the petiole. Inflorescences erect, scapose racemes. Sepals and petals free, the lateral sepals fused to the long column foot. Flowers campanulate. Lip three-lobed, the lateral lobes erect, articulate to the column foot, the disc with parallel longitudinal keels, the base usually without a spur. Column straight to lightly arcuate, with winged lateral margins, with a foot (mentum), the anther usually with two crests; pollinia 8, in four unequal pairs.
Etymology
From the Greek tainia, meaning fillet, referring either to the long narrow leaves or to the elevated keels on the lip.
Distribution
A genus of 14 species widespread in Asia from Sri Lanka and India to Borneo, New Guinea and Australia.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow Tainia in pots using a terrestrial mix. Grow them under intermediate temperatures in medium to low light levels. Provide the plants with a month’s rest of less water and fertilizer after maturation of the new growth. Repot yearly immediately after flowering. ........................................... T. maingayi
Literature
Perner, H. 2000. Tainia dunnii Rolfe 1908 [3]. Die Orchidee 51(1): Orchideenkartei Seite 917-918. Tanaka, R. and T. Matsuda 1972. A high occurrence of accessory chromosomal type in Tainia laxiflora, Orchidaceae. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 85:43-49.
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