Herminium
(pronounced: her-MEEN-ee-um)
Classification
Orchideae subtribe Habenariinae
Overview
Terrestrials. Stems erect, leafy. Leaves clasping the stem. Inflorescences terminal, densely-flowered spicate racemes. Flowers small, numerous, cupped. Sepals and petals free, subequal. Lip three-lobed, sessile, without a spur or callus. Column short, flanked by a pair of large staminodia; pollinia 2.
Etymology
Origin obscure: (1) from the Greek hermin, meaning bed-post, in allusion to the staminode shape; (2) from the Greek god Hermes (Mercury); or (3) from the Latin [h]ermineus, the white color of ermine, referring to the whitish flowers of some species.
Distribution
A genus of about 30 species ranging from Europe to China.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow plants of Herminium in pots of terrestrial mixture rich in organic material. Provide bright light, cool-intermediate to cool temperatures, and regular watering throughout the year. The roots of Herminium should never dry out for long periods of time.
Literature
Hedge, S. N. and A. N. Rao 1982. Herminium longilobatum Hedge et Rao: a new species of orchid from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Himalayan Plant J. 1(2):46-48. Lang, K.-Y. 1988. The genus Herminium Guett. (Orchidaceae) in China. Acta Phytotax. Sinica 26:173-188. Malhotra, C. L. and B. Balodi 1985. Herminium mackinnonii Duthie, an overlooked species from Kumaon. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 6(2):465-466. Nilsson, L. A. 1979. The pollination ecology of Herminium monorchis (Orchidaceae). Bot. Not. 132:537-549. Vuijk, J. 1961. A misrepresentation through a misleading diagnosis in Winbergs florula Javanica. Blumea 11:226-228.
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