Orchid (Pleione coronaria)
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Orchidales |
| Family | Orchidaceae (1) |
| Genus | Pleione |
| Size | Inflorescence length: 8 - 10 cm (2) |
Listed on Appendix II of CITES (3).
Pleione coronaria is an epiphytic orchid. It has prominent egg-shaped swellings at the base of the stem, which are known as 'pseudobulbs' (2). The flower stalk (or inflorescence) stands vertically and bears a single pale pink flower (2). The flower is long and slender and the lip is marked with red spots towards the tip and has a series of pronounced ridges in the centre (2). Each pseudobulb has a single leaf associated with it (2).
This rare orchid is only found in the Ganesh Himal region of central Nepal (2).
Found in mountainous areas at heights of between 2,500 and 3,500 metres above sea level; associated with rhododendron forests and old Tsuga dumosa trees in a moist climate (4).
This Pleione flowers in spring (4). It has been observed growing amongst moss on the inner branches of trees, quite often close to the ground (4).
Pleione coronaria has an extremely limited range and the area in which it is found has been heavily deforested, possibly endangering this species further (2). It is unlikely that this orchid is under threat from collection due to the inaccessibility of its habitat (4).
More information on the distribution and status of this species in the wild is required before any conservation measures can be implemented.
Authenticated (2/6/03) by Dr Phillip Cribb. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
- Epiphyte: a plant that uses another plant, typically a tree, for its physical support, but which does not draw nourishment from it.
- Inflorescence: the reproductive shoot of the plant, which bears flowers (See http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/pdfs/flower.pdf for a fact sheet on flower structure).
- IUCN Red List (February, 2003) www.redlist.org
- Cribb, P. and Butterfield, I. (1999) The Genus Pleione. [2nd ed] Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- CITES (February, 2003) www.cites.org
- Trudel, N. (1986) In search of the lost Pleione. Orchid Review, 94(1116): 329 - 333.