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Arundina graminifolia Arundina graminifolia (Arundina bambusifolia)
Arundina graminifolia
Arundina graminifolia - Photo © Peter M.C. Werner

 

  

Cuban Orchids

Index

Binomials,Synonyms

Species List
Starting With
Containing

Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Taxonomic Serial No 185494

Kingdom

Plantae

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class

Liliopsida - Monocotyledons

Subclass

Liliidae

Order

Orchidales

Family

Orchidaceae - Orchid family

Subfamily

 

Tribe

 

Subtribe

 

Alliance

 

Genus

Arundina Blume 1825

Genus Source

Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 8: 401. 1825 [20 Sep-7 Dec 1825]

Genus Abreviation

Ar.

Species

Arundina graminifolia

Authority

(D. Don) Hochr.

Source

David Don first described the species as Bletia graminifolia in 1825 in Prodromus Florae Nepalensis based upon a collection from Nepal).

In 1910, Bénédict Hochreutiner transferred it to Arundina in the Bulletin of the New York Botanic Garden.

John Lindley also named this species as Arund. bambusifolia in 1830, which is now considered to be a synonym.

Synonyms

- Arundina bambusifolia (Roxb.) Lindl. 1830
- Arundina speciosa Blume
- Bletia graminifolia D.Don

Common Name

Bamboo orchid

Etymology

Blume derived the generic name from the Greek arundo (reed) in reference to the reed like stems of the plant.

Distribution

India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South China to Indonesia and across the Pacific Islands. It has been introduced in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cuba and Panama.

Altitude

Sea level to 300m

Life Form

Terrestrial

Range

 

Habitat

 

Flowers

 

Flowering period

 

Fragrance

Scented
 

 

The bamboo orchid is a species of orchid and the sole of the genus Arundina. This tropical Asiatic genus extends from India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South China to Indonesia and across the Pacific Islands. It has been introduced in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cuba and Panama.

The bamboo orchid is a terrestrial multiperennial orchid with reedy stems, forming into large clumps growing to a height between 70 cm and 2 m. The plaited linear leaves are oblong lanceolate, with a length of 9 to 19 cm and a width of 0.8 to 1.5 cm. The apex is acuminate. There are amplexicaul (clasping the stem) sheathing stipules.

This orchid blooms in summer and autumn, showing rather open clusters of showy terminal flowers, ten at the most. They bloom in succession on the terminal racemes, which are 7 to 16 cm long. These flowers, 5 – 8 cm in diameter, are a rosy lilac and white disk with a purple lip. The bracts are wide triangular and surround the main stalk of the flower cluster.

The occasional fertilized seed pods contain minute powdery seeds, and small plants often develop near the cane ends after flowering, and likely aid in propagation if allowed to reach the soil.