Calanthe ID

[Slug Killer]

Hi, I have had this Calanthe for 3 years now and the label faded a long time ago. This is the first year it has flowered for me (in flower now). This is a rhizome type Calanthe not Pseudobulb.

[Maggi Young]

Dave, I don't know this Calanthe... but it is a stunner and your pic is fab!

[Giles]

Dear Dave,
I know from your previous posts that you have the book 'Native Orchids of China in Colour',
and that is the book I looked at when I saw your post. Your picture looks like the C.sylvatica in the book,
though 'the book' states 'pseudobulbs' which you say your plant has not got.
I had a look in Genera Orchidacearum and they divide the Calanthes into subgenus Calanthe (lackingswollenpseudobulbs), and subgenus Preptanthe (pseudobulbsswollen).
I just wondered if it was a case of when is a pseudobulb swollen or not swollen?

[Giles]

Sorry, I don't think I made myself clear.
I think all Calanthes are meant to have pseudobulbs, its just that some have swollen ones, and others don't.
So when  the Chinese books states 'pseudobulbs' it may not necessarily mean it has SWOLLEN pseudobulbs.
If it didn't have a pseudobulb (of any sort) it wouldn't be a Calanthe at all.
I have no expertise at all in this area, and would be happy to post you photocopies of the relevant pages so you can try and sort it out yourself if you would like!!!

[Maggi Young]

With orchids I would think that one man's swollen pseudobulb was that man's serious problem....  but I really shouldn't   comment 

[Giles]

Maggi,
I'll just take a couple of paracetamol and rest in a darkened room.....

[Slug Killer]

Hi, I had this discussion on another forum a while back. You get some Calanthe which are bulbs and some like this one below that are the evergreen Calanthe. Picture below is not the plant I am trying to ID but has the same structure and roots.

[Slug Killer]

Just looked again at 'Orchids of China' and have to agree it does look like Calanthe sylvatica. Flowering a bit late if it is as it says April-September but who knows with the weather the way it is.

Dave

[Giles]

Unfortunately, Dave, there is a further problem:
The picture of C.sylvatica in the 'China' book may look convincing, but I have another book ('The Orchid Book' by J.Cullen)which says C.sylvatica
grows in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands [which I gather are near Madagascar] and not in China!

[Slug Killer]

Hi, does it have a photo in your second book as this plant was bought at a local plant fair and could have come from anywhere. If yes, is the photo the same as 'Orchids of China'?

David

[Slug Killer]

No further forward as I did a search for Calanthe sylvatica on the net but I think this can be ruled out. It does look more like the 'C, sylvatica' in Orchids of China, perhaps the book has got it wrong?

On another note I searched for Calanthe on google and this Calanthe ID question ranked number 7 on the first page, I only posted it yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!

David

[Heather Smith]

It's beautiful. Can you tell me how are you growing it, please?  Alpine House? Conservatory?  What compost, please?

[Slug Killer]

Hi Heather,

I changed the mix earlier this year to mainly Melcourt potting bark, perlite and some pumice. It was outside in the glasshouse but the buds did not want to open so I moved indoors on the windowsill and hey presto two opened within a week.

David

[Heather Smith]

Thanks David. A very open orchid-type compost then.  If I see it I would like to try it.

Heather

[Giles]

Dear Dave,
I've also got the book 'The Orchids of Madagascar' (where C. sylvatica is meant to be native). The plant illustrated there is nothing like the one in the 'Orchids of China' book, so guess something is not quite right somewhere.