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Home > Orchids of Kerala > Acampe Acampe An old world genus of about 6 epiphytic or lithophytic species characterized by woody habit, thick and fleshy leves and a lateral raceme or panicle of peculiarly brittle flowers marked by brown stripes. Five species are known from India with four known to occur in Kerala:- 1. Acampe Congesta (Lindl,) Lindl., Fol. Orch. Acampe 2, 1833. Vanda congesta Lindl., Bot. Reg. Misc. 94. 1839. Saccolabium congestum (Lindl.) J.D.Hook., Fl.Brit.Ind. 6:63.1890. S.papillosum Wight, Ic, 5910: 9.t.1672.1851. A little known species of dubious alliance; type sheet is also marked 'Ceylon, Loddiges' Occurrence: Malabar (Wight gives no precise locality) Distribution: Local Endemic (Malabar)
Saccolabium ochraceum Lindl., Bot. Reg. 28: Misc.2. 1842; J.D.Hook. 1890:62. Very distinct species, at once separated from the common Acampe praemorsa by the slender, much branched inflorescence bearing small flowers. First collected from Kerala by Meebold from 'Parambicolam' (Specimen at CAL), this species has since then been recorded from many districts. Occurence: Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palghat, Kannur and Kasargod districts. Distribution: Extends from India, Sri Lanka to Bhutan (type), Burma, Thailand to Indo-China. 3. Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35:495.1932: Abraham & Vatsala 1981:450. Epidendrum praemorsum Roxb., Pl. Corom. 34. t. 43. 1795. Saccolabium praemorsum (Roxb.) J.D.Hook., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:62.1890. Acampe wightiana Lindl., Fol. Orch. Acampe 2. 1853; Fischer in Gamble 1928:1447. Vanda wightiana (Lindl.) Wight, Ic. 5(1): 9. t. 1670.1851. Saccolabium wightianum (Lindl.) J.D.Hook., I.c. [Click on the image to enlarge]
Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. &McCann a. habit, b.flower(one petal and a lateral sepal removed), c.Flower-Section through ovary, column and lip, d. column and lip-front view, e. dorsal sepal. f. petal, g. lateral sepal, h. pollinarium Most common epiphyte at low elevations Occurance: Almost all districts Distribution: Extends from Seychelles to South India and Sri Lanka. 4. Acampe rigida (Buch.-Ham. ex J.E.Sm.) P.F. Hunt, Kew Bull. 24:98.1970; Singh & Dawre 1983:1021; Seidenfaden 1988: 45. Aerides rigida Buch.-Ham. ex J.E. Sm. in Rees, Cyclopaedia. 39. 1819. Very large and massive plant with broad (to 6 cm) leaves, but flowers are comparatively smaller. Occurence: Trivandrum (Meenmutti) and Pathanamthitta (Moozhiar) districts. Distribution: Widespread from Africa to Asia.
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