Calanthe
Calanthe, commonly known as Christmas orchids, is a genus of about 220 species of orchids in the family Orchidaceae. They are evergreen or deciduous terrestrial plants with thick roots, small oval pseudobulbs, large corrugated leaves and upright, sometimes arching flowering stems. The sepals and petals are narrow and a similar size to each other and the labellum usually has spreading lobes.
Description
Orchids in the genus Calanthe are terrestrial with small, crowded pseudobulbs with thick roots and a few corrugated or wrinkled leaves with the base tapering to a petiole-like stalk. Some species are evergreen while others are deciduous. The flowers are delicate but showy, white, pink, yellow or orange and crowded near the end of an erect, sometimes arching flowering stem. The sepals and petals are relatively narrow, similar in size and spread widely. The labellum has three or four spreading lobes and in most species there is a spur at the base. Unlike similar orchids, the labellum of Calanthe orchids is fused to the column.
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Calanthe was first formally described in 1821 by Robert Brown and his manuscript was published in The Botanical Register. The name Calanthe is derived from the Ancient Greek words kallos meaning "beauty" and anthos meaning "flower".
Distribution and habitat
Calanthe species are found in all tropical areas, but mostly concentrated in Southeast Asia. Some species also range into subtropical lands such as China, India, Madagascar, Australia, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies and various islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The following is a list of species of Calanthe recognised by the Plants of the World Online as at August 2018:Calanthe abbreviata Lindl.Calanthe aceras Schltr.Calanthe africana M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe alba W.Suarez & CootesCalanthe albolutea Ridl.Calanthe alismifolia Lindl.Calanthe alleizettei Gagnep.Calanthe alpina Hook.f. ex Lindl.Calanthe alta Rchb.f.Calanthe amboinensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe angustifolia Lindl.Calanthe aquamarina Schuit. & de VogelCalanthe arcuata RolfeCalanthe arfakana J.J.Sm.Calanthe argenteostriata C.Z.Tang & S.J.ChengCalanthe arisanensis HayataCalanthe aristulifera Rchb.f.Calanthe aruank P.RoyenCalanthe aurantiaca Ridl.Calanthe aureiflora J.J.Sm.Calanthe averyanoviana M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe baconii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe balansae FinetCalanthe baliensis J.J.Wood & J.B.ComberCalanthe beamanii P.J.CribbCalanthe beleensis Ormerod & P.J.CribbCalanthe bicalcarata J.J.Sm.Calanthe biloba Lindl.Calanthe bingtaoi J.W.Zhai, L.J.Chen & Z.J.LiuCalanthe bivalvis P.J.Cribb & OrmerodCalanthe borneensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe brassii OrmerodCalanthe brevicornu Lindl.Calanthe burkei P.J.CribbCalanthe calanthoides Hamer & Garay in F.HamerCalanthe callosa M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe camptoceras Schltr.Calanthe cardioglossa Schltr.Calanthe carrii GovaertsCalanthe caulescens J.J.Sm.Calanthe caulodes J.J.Sm.Calanthe ceciliae Rchb.f.Calanthe celebica RolfeCalanthe chevalieri Gagnep.Calanthe chloroleuca Lindl.Calanthe chrysoglossoides J.J.Sm.Calanthe clavata Lindl.Calanthe clavicalcar J.J.Sm.Calanthe claytonii P.J.CribbCalanthe coiloglossa Schltr. in K.M.Schumann & C.A.G.LauterbachCalanthe columnaris M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe conspicua Lindl.Calanthe coodei P.J.CribbCalanthe cooperi M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe cootesii NaiveCalanthe corymboides M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe cremeoviridis J.J.WoodCalanthe crenulata J.J.Sm.Calanthe crispifolia OrmerodCalanthe cruciata Schltr.Calanthe crumenata Ridl.Calanthe crystallina P.J.CribbCalanthe curvatoascendens GilliCalanthe daenikeri M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe davaensis AmesCalanthe davidii Franch.Calanthe daymanensis Ormerod & P.J.CribbCalanthe decora M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe delavayi FinetCalanthe densiflora Lindl.Calanthe devogelii P.J.Cribb & D.A.ClaytonCalanthe discolor Lindl.Calanthe dolichopoda FukuyCalanthe dulongensis H.Li, R.Li & Z.L.DaoCalanthe duyana Aver.Calanthe ecalcarata M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe ecallosa J.J.Sm.Calanthe ecarinata Rolfe ex Hemsl.Calanthe emeishanica K.Y.Lang & Z.H.TsiCalanthe engleriana Kraenzl. in K.M.Schumann & C.A.G.LauterbachCalanthe epiphytica CarrCalanthe fargesii FinetCalanthe ferruginea M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe finisterrae Schltr.Calanthe fissa L.O.WilliamsCalanthe flava C.MorrenCalanthe floresana P.J.CribbCalanthe forbesii Ridl.Calanthe formosana RolfeCalanthe fragrans P.RoyenCalanthe francoisii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe fugongensis X.H.Jin & S.C.ChenCalanthe geelvinkensis J.J.Sm.Calanthe gibbsiae RolfeCalanthe goodenoughiana Ormerod & P.J.CribbCalanthe graciliflora HayataCalanthe graciliscapa Schltr.Calanthe grandiflora NadeaudCalanthe grata M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe griffithii Lindl.Calanthe gustavii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe habbemensis Ormerod & P.J.CribbCalanthe hainanensis M.W.Chase & Schuit.Calanthe halconensis AmesCalanthe hancockii RolfeCalanthe hattorii Schltr.Calanthe hekouensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe henryi RolfeCalanthe herbacea Lindl.Calanthe himalaicum RaskotiCalanthe hirsuta Seidenf.Calanthe hololeuca Rchb.f. in B.SeemannCalanthe hoshii S.Kobay.Calanthe humblotii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe hyacinthina Schltr.Calanthe imthurnii KoresCalanthe indigofera M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe indochinensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe inflata Schltr.Calanthe insularis S.H.Oh, H.J.Suh & C.W.ParkCalanthe izu-insularis Ohwi & Satomi in J.OhwiCalanthe johorensis HolttumCalanthe judithiae P.J.CribbCalanthe jusnerii Boxall ex Náves in F.M.BlancoCalanthe kaniensis Schltr.Calanthe kemulensis J.J.Sm.Calanthe kermodei Ormerod & KurzweilCalanthe keshabii LucksomCalanthe kinabaluensis RolfeCalanthe kooshunensis Fukuy.Calanthe labiata M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe labrosa Rchb.f.Calanthe lacerata AmesCalanthe laciniata M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe lambii P.J.CribbCalanthe lamellosa RolfeCalanthe lancilabris Ormerod & P.J.CribbCalanthe landyae M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe lechangensis Z.H.Tsi & TangCalanthe leonidii P.J.Cribb & D.A.ClaytonCalanthe leucosceptrum Schltr.Calanthe leuseri P.J.CribbCalanthe ligo P.J.CribbCalanthe limprichtii Schltr.Calanthe longgangensis Y.S.Huang & Yan LiuCalanthe longibracteata Ridl.Calanthe longicornu M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe longifolia Schltr.Calanthe longipes Hook.f.Calanthe lutea M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe lyonii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe lyroglossa Rchb.f.Calanthe madagascariensis Rolfe ex Hook.f.Calanthe mannii Hook.f.Calanthe maquilingensis AmesCalanthe masuca Lindl.Calanthe maxii P.O'ByrneCalanthe mcgregorii AmesCalanthe metoensis Z.H.Tsi & K.Y.LangCalanthe micrantha Schltr.Calanthe microglossa Ridl.Calanthe millikenii P.J.CribbCalanthe millotae Ursch & Genoud ex BosserCalanthe mindorensis Ames, Philipp. J. Sci.Calanthe mishmensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe moluccensis J.J.Sm.Calanthe monophylla Ridl.Calanthe montana M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe morotaiensis Schuit.Calanthe musa-amanii J.J.WoodCalanthe nana M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe nankunensis Z.H.TsiCalanthe nguyenthinhii Aver.Calanthe nicolae P.O'ByrneCalanthe nipponica MakinoCalanthe nivalis Boxall ex Náves in F.M.BlancoCalanthe obcordata M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe obreniformis J.J.Sm.Calanthe odora Griff.Calanthe okinawensis HayataCalanthe oreadum RendleCalanthe otuhanica C.L.Chan & T.J.BarkmanCalanthe ovalifolia Ridl.Calanthe ovata Ridl.Calanthe parvilabris Schltr.Calanthe pauciflora M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe pauciverrucosa J.J.Sm.Calanthe pavairiensis OrmerodCalanthe perrottetii A.Rich.Calanthe petelotiana Gagnep.Calanthe peyrotii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe philippinensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe plantaginea Lindl.Calanthe poiformis P.J.Cribb & OrmerodCalanthe polyantha GilliCalanthe puberula Lindl.Calanthe pulchella M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe pulchra Lindl.Calanthe pullei J.J.Sm.Calanthe punctata KurzweilCalanthe reflexilabris J.J.Sm.Calanthe reflexipetals M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe rhodochila Schltr.Calanthe rigida CarrCalanthe robertsii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe rosea Benth.Calanthe rubens Ridl.Calanthe rubra S.H.Oh, H.J.Suh & C.W.ParkCalanthe ruthiae Schuit.Calanthe ruttenii J.J.Sm.Calanthe saccata J.J.Sm.Calanthe sacculata Schltr.Calanthe salaccensis J.J.Sm.Calanthe sandsii P.J.CribbCalanthe scaposa Z.H.Tsi & K.Y.LangCalanthe secunda P.J.CribbCalanthe seranica J.J.Sm.Calanthe siargaoensis M.Leon, Naive & CootesCalanthe sieboldopsis B.Y.Yang & Bo LiCalanthe simplex Seidenf.Calanthe simulans M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe sinica Z.H.TsiCalanthe solomonensis P.J.Cribb & D.A.ClaytonCalanthe spathoglottoides Schltr.Calanthe speciosa Lindl.Calanthe steinhardtiana M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe stella P.J.CribbCalanthe stenocentron M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe striata R.Br. ex Spreng.Calanthe subtriloba M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe succedanea Gagnep.Calanthe sylvatica Lindl.Calanthe taenioides J.J.Sm.Calanthe tahitensis NadeaudCalanthe taibaishanensis M.Guo, J.W.Zhai & L.J.ChenCalanthe takeoi HayataCalanthe takeuchii Ormerod & P.J.CribbCalanthe tankervilleae M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe tenuis Ames & C.Schweinf.Calanthe testacea M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe tetragona M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe tonkinensis M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe torricellensis Schltr. in K.M.Schumann & C.A.G.LauterbachCalanthe transiens J.J.Sm.Calanthe tricarinata Lindl.Calanthe trichoneura M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe trifida Tang & F.T.WangCalanthe triplicata AmesCalanthe trulliformis King & Pantl.Calanthe truncata J.J.Sm.Calanthe truncicola Schltr.Calanthe tsiana Y.Q.Chen, J.W.Zhai & S.R.LanCalanthe tsoongiana Tang & F.T.WangCalanthe tuberculosa M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe uncata Lindl.Calanthe undulata J.J.Sm.Calanthe unifolia Ridl.Calanthe velutina Ridl.Calanthe ventilabrum Rchb.f. in B.SeemannCalanthe versteegii J.J.Sm.Calanthe vestita Wall. ex Lindl.Calanthe villosa J.J.Sm.Calanthe villosagastris M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe wallichii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe wenshanensis J.W.Zhai, L.J.Chen & Z.J.LiuCalanthe whistleri P.J.Cribb & D.A.ClaytonCalanthe whiteana King & Pantl.Calanthe womersleyi P.J.Cribb & OrmerodCalanthe woodfordii M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.Calanthe woodii P.J.CribbCalanthe wuxiensis H.P.Deng & F.Q.YuCalanthe yaoshanensis Z.X.Ren & H.WangCalanthe yueana Tang & F.T.WangCalanthe yuksomnensis LucksomCalanthe zollingeri Rchb.f.