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Calanthe

Calanthe Robert Brown

A pantropical genus of about 150 terrestrial species Calanthe is represented in India by 25 species. Two species have been recorded from kerala .

1. Calanthe sylvatica (Thouars) Lindl. , Gen. Sp. Orch. 250. 1833.

Centrosis sylvatica Thouars, Orch. Iles. Aust. Afr.T.35, 36. 1822.

Bletia masuca D.Don, Prodr.Fl. Nepal. 30. 1825. Calanthe masuca (D.Don) Lindl., Gen.Sp.Orch.249. 1833; J.D.Hook. 1890: 850; Fischer in Gamble 1928: 1432; Santapau & Kapadia 1966: 189; Rao 1966: 222; Seidenfaden 1975: 19;Abraham & Vatsala 1981: 263.

Calanthe emarginata auct. non Lindl.: Wight 1844-45:3 (2):10 t.918.

This is a highly variable species in Kerala. The lip base with 3-tubercled calli is very characteristic .

Occurrence : Trivandrum,Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palghat, Wayanadu and Kannur Districts.

Distribution : Widespread from Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands and tropical Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Borneo.


2.Calanthe triplicata (Willem.) Ames , Phil. Journ. Sci. 2:326. 1907;Seidenfaden 1975: 15 ;Abraham & Vatsala 1981: 263 : Joseph 1982 : 50 : Seidenfaden in Matthew 1983 : 1573 : Joseph 1987: 65.

Orchis triplicata Willem., Ann. Bot. (Usteri) 6: 57. 1793.

Limodorum veratrifolium Willd ., Sp.Pl. 4: 122. 1805.

Calanthe veratrifolia (Willd.) Ker-Gawl., Bot. Reg. 9.t. 720. 1824;J.D. Hook. 1890: 351; Fischer in Gamble 1928: 1432.

Calanthe perrottetii A. Rich., Ann. Sci.nat. bot. (ser. 2) 15: 68.1841;Wight 1851:5(1):8 .t. 1664-65.

Flowers are uniformly white in this species (See pl.IIId).

Occurrence : Idukki District.

Distribution : India to Japan,Australia and the Pacific Islands.