Chiloschista
(pronounced: kye-loh-SHISS-tah)
Classification
Vandeae subtribe Aeridinae
Overview
Monopodial epiphytes. Stems very short. Roots conspicuous, terete or flattened. Leaves absent or small and ephemeral. Inflorescences axillary racemes or rarely panicles, often pubescent, the floral bracts minute. Flowers ephemeral or long-lasting. Sepals and petals free, spreading, subsimilar, subequal, oblong-elliptic, obtuse-rounded, the lateral sepals fused to the column foot. Lip three-lobed, subsaccate, the lateral lobes erect, conspicuous, the midlobe often reduced to a transverse ridge, usually pubescent, the callus a pubescent cushion or erect and tongue-like. Column short, without wings, with a prominent foot, the anther +/- long-filiform lateral appendages, the appendages rarely glandular; pollinia 4, in two tightly appressed pairs, on a common linear stipe and minute viscidium.
Etymology
From the Greek cheilos, meaning lip, and schistos, meaning cleft, referring to the clefted appearance caused by the prominent lateral lobes of the lip and the small midlobe.
Distribution
A genus of about 18 species from northern India to Australia. Chiloschista was formerly included in a broadly defined Sarcochilus.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Mount plants of Chiloschista on slabs without any moisture-retaining material at the roots. In general, the plants do better on smooth hardwood branches rather than highly textured slabs such as cork bark. Provide bright light, intermediate temperatures, and frequent watering allowing the roots to dry out between waterings. Chiloschista usneoides and C. yunnanensis are exceptions, requiring cool-intermediate temperatures. Although the plants require high humidity, care should be taken to avoid excessive algal growth which blocks the roots ability to photosynthesize.
Literature
Cockburn, W., C. J. Goh and P. N. Avadhani 1985. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation in a shootless orchid, Chiloschista usneoides (Don) Ldl.: a variant in Crassulacean acid metabolism. Plant Physiol. 77:83-86. Diels, L. and R. Mansfeld 1932. Die Orchideen-gattung Chiloschista Lindl. Notizbl. Berlin-Dahlem 106(11):491-498. Holttum, R. E. 1966. A new Chiloschista from Malaya. Orchid Review 74(875):146-147. Jenny, R. and H. H. Fessel 2000. Chiloschista lunifera (Rchb.fil.) J. J. Smith 1905 [12]. Die Orchidee: Orchideenkartei Seite 923-924. Seidenfaden, G. 1987. Eine neue Chiloschista aus Thailand: Chiloschista trudelii. Die Orchidee 38:308-311. Tsi, Z.-H. 1984. On Chinese Sarcoglyphis, Ornithochilus, Chiloschista and Epigeneium. Acta Phytotax. Sinica 22(6):476-485.
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