ORCHIDACEAE
Aerides Lour., Fl. Cochinch.: 525 (1790).
By: Bhakta B. Raskoti
Taxon Description
Epiphytic monopodial herbs. Rhizome stout with fibrous roots. Stem pendent, terete, enclosed by leaf sheaths, with many nodes. Leaves distichous, oblong, leathery, base sheathing, apex bilobed. Inflorescence lateral, pendulous, racemose or paniculate, densely flowered. Flowers fully opened. Sepals similar, spreading; lateral sepals decurrent on column foot. Petals similar to sepals but smaller in size. Lip adnate to column foot, immovable, spurred, 3-lobed; lateral lobes decurrent on column; mid-lobe erose; with calli. Column elongate, widened towards apex, with a distinct foot; rostellum bifid; anther bilocular; pollinia 2, subglobose, viscidium semicircular. Fruit an ovoid capsule
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide 31 species, distributed in S Asia, C Asia and SE Asia. Two species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a Stem unbranched. Flower pink purple, mid-lobe of lip hastate. Spur saccate, straight……………………………………………………………………1. A. multiflora
b Stem branched. Flower white with spotted purple, mid-lobe of lip oblong-lanceolate. Spur infundibuliform, geniculate……………………………………………2. A. odorata
1. Aerides multiflora Roxb., Pl. Coromandel 3: 68 (1820).
Aerides affinis Wall. ex Lindl.; Epidendrum geniculatum Hook. f
Plants 20–39 cm tall. Roots fibrous. Stem erect to pendent, stout, unbranched, sheathed, 2–8 cm. Leaves oblong, (5–)8–23 × 1.5–2 cm, distichous, apex obtuse and unequally 2-lobed. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate, 13–30 cm, arising from within leaf sheaths, 1 or 2–4, nodding. Peduncle with 3–4 tubular sheaths, 5–15 cm, densely 20–30-flowered. Peduncle bracts broadly ovate, 4–7 × 3–4 mm, apex obtuse. Floral bracts ovate, 2–4 × 2 mm, apex acute. Flowers pink purple with dark purple spots, 1.5–2 cm across. Pedicel and ovary 4–5 mm. Dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong, 7–10 × 5–7 mm, apex obtuse-rounded. Lateral sepals elliptic-oblong, 6–10 × 6–8 mm, adnate at base to column foot, apex obtuse. Petals elliptic-oblong, 7–10 × 5–6 mm, base contracted, apex obtuse. Lip ovate in general outline, 10–15 × 10 mm, spurred, 3-lobed; lateral lobes semi-circular, 5–9 × 4–8 mm, erect, apex obtuse-rounded, distal margin irregularly toothed; mid-lobe hastate, 6–9 × 5–8 mm, callus at base, apex bilobed; spur saccate, straight, 1–1.5 mm. Column 3–5 mm, foot 4 mm. Capsule ovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.5–0.7 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 200–1100 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in broadleaved forests.
Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–October.
2. Aerides odorata Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 2: 525 (1790).
Aerides cornuta Roxb.; Epidendrum odoratum (Lour.) Poir.
Plants 60–100 cm tall. Roots fibrous. Stem pendent, stout, branched, sheathed. Leaves oblong, (6–) 10–23 × 1.5–3 cm, distichous, apex obtuse and unequally 2-lobed. Inflorescence racemose, 10–31 cm, arising from within sheaths, 1–3, nodding. Peduncle with 3 tubular sheaths, 6–10 cm, densely 15–30-flowered. Peduncle bracts broadly ovate, 3–7 × 3–4 mm, apex obtuse. Floral bracts broadly ovate, 3–6 × 2 mm, apex acute. Flowers white, spotted purple, 1–2 cm across. Pedicel and ovary 1.2–2.5 cm. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 6–10 × 4–7 mm, apex obtuse-rounded. Lateral sepals broadly ovate, 7–11 × 7–9 mm, adnate at base to column foot, apex obtuse. Petals subelliptic, 8–12 × 5–7 mm, base contracted, apex obtuse. Lip nearly oblong in general outline, 10–16 × 6–8 mm, spurred, 3-lobed, almost enclosing column; lateral lobes erect, obovate-cuneate, 10–12 × 4–7 mm, distal margin irregularly toothed, apex obtuse–rounded; mid-lobe oblong-lanceolate, 7–10 × 2–3 mm; spur geniculate, infundibuliform, 6–9 mm. Column 4–5 mm, foot 5–7 mm. Capsule ovoid, 2–2.5 × 1–1.2 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Assam-Burma, C Asia, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 200–1200 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks and main branches in broadleaved forests.
Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: July–October.