Leafless orchids

[theroc1217]

That's fantastic to hear. Has it bloomed for you yet? It would be cool to see pictures.

[theroc1217]

Originally Posted by Stray59

I thought that with the myco-heterotrophic forms, you also have to provide the fungus that provides them with a sugar / food source? If so, where do you get the fungus?
If not, how do they get food with no chlorophyll?
Steve
P.s. - on the "Learn something new everyday" level - I did not realize there was a myco-heterotrophic cymbidium! How wild - will look that one up - !
Thnaks

Most of those fungi are also parasitic, actually.

[samarak]

Great lists, Lambelkip and Theroc1217. Thanks. Also appreciate Osmophore's addition of Chauliodon deflexicalcaratum (which I see used to be a Microcoelia). I will add Solenangis - some (S. cornuta) have been moved to Microcoelia, but others (S. aphylla) are still accepted.

Between my wife and myself, we have several leafless orchids (maybe 5 or 6 genera) but Dendrophyllax lindenii is the only one we're finding difficult to grow. D. funalis is much easier for us.

Steve

[theroc1217]

I have 4 ghosts and 2 leafless vanilla.

[hcastil3]

this is a Mind Blowing Article anyone interested in leafless orchids and evolution might be interest in reading this.. I know i was so happy i found it!!!!


talks about the plastid nrDNA, plastid DNA and so on... also about monopodial growth habit of the leafless varieties , aeration complexes for gas exchange in photosynthetic roots, and the morphology of such species..




Molecular phylogenetics of Vandeae (Orchidaceae) and the evolution of leaflessness


Its amazing I was amused!!

[samarak]

Thanks for the link, Hcastil3 - fascinating!

Steve

[hcastil3]

You're welcome Steve, I'm glad someone enjoyed it

[samarak]

We've accumulated a pretty good list of leafless orchids in this thread. I'd like to ask the group now about growing them.

How many of us go out of our way to add leafless orchids to our collections? (I do.)

Leaving out the obligate myco-heterotrophs like Corallorhiza and Hexalectris and Rhizanthella and others that are similarly ungrowable for mere mortals, how many species are in cultivation?

How do you grow yours? Most of ours are mounted, a couple just lie on the bench, in moderate light (Phalaenopsis, Leptotes, and a few angraecoids grow near them), and are the only things in the greenhouse except for a couple of oddball ferns and the Tillandsia usneoides that get misted 5 or 6 days each week.

Steve

[theroc1217]

I keep mine in a tank with the rest of them, but they get more misting than the others.

I have 3 Chiloschista, 1 Taeniophyllum, and 1 Solenangis.

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[TOMMYMIAMI]

Except all mentioned, I have also Solenangis aphylla, extremely cute mini leafless (root) orchid from Africa (Tanzania, Kenya).