Scientific Name: Calanthe argenteo-striata
Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Type: Perennial herb, with green foliage and blue flowers.
This species belongs to the genus Calanthe, which contains around 250 species globally, with about 50 found in China. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, particularly in mountainous areas with limestone soils.
Morphological Features:
The plant lacks a prominent rhizome. Pseudobulbs are short and conical, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, with 2–3 sheaths and 3–7 spreading leaves at flowering. The leaves are dark green with 5–6 silvery-gray stripes, oval or ovate-lanceolate in shape, measuring 18–27 cm long and 5–11 cm wide. They have an acute apex and narrow base, with some hairiness on the underside.
The inflorescence rises from the center of the leaf cluster, reaching up to 60 cm in height, with dense, tubular sheaths. The raceme is 7–11 cm long, bearing more than 10 flowers. The sepals are broadly ovate, about 1.5 cm long, with an acute tip and a smooth back.
The pedicel and ovary are yellow-green, around 3 cm long. The flowers open widely, with bracts and petals slightly reflexed. The central bract is elliptic, 9 mm long and 4.5 mm wide, with an obtuse tip and a short awn. The lateral sepals are broadly ovate-elliptic, 10 mm long and 5.5 mm wide, also with an obtuse tip and short hairs on the underside.
The petals are subconical or obovate, slightly smaller than the sepals, with a subtruncate apex and three veins. The lip is white, fused with the stem, longer than the sepals, and has three golden-yellow nodules at the base. It is three-lobed, with the lateral lobes resembling small spurs, 7 mm in size, and the central lobe deeply divided. The lobes are yellow-green, thin, and cylindrical, 1.5–1.9 cm long, with sparse short hairs outside.
The column is white, about 5 mm in length, and the stigmatic area is two-lobed and yoke-shaped. The capsule is white, narrowing at the top, with a warty surface. The pollen masses are narrowly oval or oval, about 2 mm in size, with short stalks and a visco-repellent structure near the square.
Flowering Season: April to May.
Native Habitat:
It is found in northern Guangdong (Conghua), southwestern Guangxi (Longzhou), southwestern Guizhou (Xingyi, Anlong), and southeastern Yunnan (Jinping, Malipo). It grows in rocky crevices or on limestone plains under hillside forests, typically at elevations between 500 and 1200 meters above sea level.
Growth Conditions:
Thrives in warm, humid, and semi-shaded environments. It prefers well-drained soil and should be kept dry during winter.
Cultivation and Conservation:
It can be grown in pots filled with peat-based soil. A layer of broken bricks at the bottom of the pot helps with drainage. During winter, it does not go dormant but requires temperatures between 10°C and 15°C. It is usually divided into evergreen and deciduous types. Some varieties can grow up to 70 cm tall, with taller inflorescences and numerous yellow-green flowers. Leaves may remain green or dry in winter and bloom in spring.
Common Varieties:
Some popular cultivars include the "Three-edge Shrimp Blue Orchid," "Silver Ribbon Shrimp Spiny Blue," and "Tassel Shrimp Blue Orchid." These varieties are admired for their unique coloration and elegant floral structures, making them popular among orchid enthusiasts.
Power Wheelchair Accessories,Power Chair Seat Cushions,Wheel Chair Headrest,Cell Phone Holder For Wheelchair
Suzhou Danyazhihe Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.autowheelchairs.com