Diaphananthe
(pronounced: dye-ah-fan-AN-thee)
Classification
Vandeae subtribe Aerangidinae
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Overview
Monopodial epiphytes. Stems erect or pendent, short or elongate, often branching from the base forming large clumps. Leaves alternate, distichous, strap-shaped, leathery, often recurved. Inflorescences axillary racemes, usually laxly pendent, the floral bracts small to large and conspicuous. Flowers translucent white, green, yellow, or pale orange. Sepals and petals subsimilar, subequal, free, spreading. Lip unlobed or obscurely three-lobed, spurred, +/- an erect basal tooth-like callus. Column short, stout, without wings or foot; pollinia 2, on separate linear stipes, on separate viscidia or a common viscidium.
Etymology
From the Greek diaphanes, meaning transparent, and anthe, meaning flower, from the translucent floral segments.
Distribution
A genus of about 50 species in tropical Africa. Species of Diaphananthe section Diaphananthe bears pollinia on separate stipes attached to a common viscidium and a tooth-like callus. Species of Diaphanathe section Rhipidoglossum (Schlechter) Summerhayes b
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow smaller plants of Diaphananthe on slabs with a small pad of moisture-retaining material at the roots. Larger-statured plants of Diaphananthe are best grown in baskets in a medium-grade epiphyte mixture. Provide medium to bright light levels, intermediate to warm temperatures, and regular watering throughout the year. Larger-leaved species with plain green leaves should be given medium light levels while smaller-leaved species with green leaved suffused with reddish-purple should be given high light levels.
Literature
Bellone, R. 1998. Les Diaphananthe et Tridactyle d’Afrique centrale. Orchid. Cult. & Protect. 36(4):13-21. Johansson, D. 1974. Rhipidoglossum paucifolium, a new African species of Orchidaceae. Bot. Notis. 127:149-151. Rasmussen, F. N. 1974. Diaphananthe adoxa sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from southern Ethiopia and the inclusion of Sarcorhynchus in Diaphananthe. Norwegian J. Bot. 21(3):227-232. Summerhayes, V. S. 1937. A review of the genus Rhipidoglossum Schltr. Blumea 1(suppl.):78-86. Venter, H. J. 1995. Might miniatures, no. 10, Diaphananthe xanthopollinia. S. Afr. Orchid J. 26(3):84.
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