Grammatophyllum
Encyclopedia
Grammatophyllum, abbreviated in horticultural trade as Gram, is a genus
of 11 orchid species
. The name is derived from the Greek words 'gramma' (letter) and 'phyllon' (leaf), referring to the dark markings in the flower. This epiphytic
genus occurs in dense rainforest
from Indo-China, to Indonesia
, the Philippines
, New Guinea
, and the Southwest Pacific islands.
The species produce several raceme
s, arising from the base of the pseudobulb
, with many yellow-green to olive-green, waxy flower
s with dark purplish-red marks. The pseudobulbs are enveloped by sheaths.
These are medium-sized to very large orchids, including the Giant Orchid
(Grammatophyllum speciosum), believed to be the largest orchid species in existence. Its pseudobulb
s can grow to a length of 2.5 m. Plants can develop into gigantic clusters weighing from several hundred kilograms to one ton! The root
s form spectacular bundles.
The more modest Bell Orchid (Grammatophyllum scriptum) is another well-known species, with pseudobulbs of 20cm, from which originate 3 to 4 stout leaves
with a length of 1 m.
Grammatophyllum multiflorum is one of the longest-blooming orchids in existence: it can be in bloom for nine months. See also Dendrobium cuthbertsonii
, whose flowers have been reported to last up to ten months each.
Grammatophyllum 'Tiger's paw' is a hybrid from G. elegans and G. fenzlianum.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 11 orchid species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. The name is derived from the Greek words 'gramma' (letter) and 'phyllon' (leaf), referring to the dark markings in the flower. This epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
genus occurs in dense rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
from Indo-China, to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, and the Southwest Pacific islands.
The species produce several raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s, arising from the base of the pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
, with many yellow-green to olive-green, waxy flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s with dark purplish-red marks. The pseudobulbs are enveloped by sheaths.
These are medium-sized to very large orchids, including the Giant Orchid
Giant Orchid
The Giant Orchid, Grammatophyllum speciosum, also called Tiger Orchid, Sugar Cane Orchid or Queen of the Orchids, is the world's largest orchid...
(Grammatophyllum speciosum), believed to be the largest orchid species in existence. Its pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s can grow to a length of 2.5 m. Plants can develop into gigantic clusters weighing from several hundred kilograms to one ton! The root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s form spectacular bundles.
The more modest Bell Orchid (Grammatophyllum scriptum) is another well-known species, with pseudobulbs of 20cm, from which originate 3 to 4 stout leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
with a length of 1 m.
Grammatophyllum multiflorum is one of the longest-blooming orchids in existence: it can be in bloom for nine months. See also Dendrobium cuthbertsonii
Dendrobium cuthbertsonii
Dendrobium cuthbertsonii is a species of orchid found in New Guinea.-Varieties:*Yellow flower variety*White flower variety*Red flower variety*Pink Flower variety*Bicolor variety...
, whose flowers have been reported to last up to ten months each.
Grammatophyllum 'Tiger's paw' is a hybrid from G. elegans and G. fenzlianum.
Species
- Grammatophyllum elegans (Fiji and Philippines).
- Grammatophyllum fenzlianum (Maluku (Ambon).
- Grammatophyllum kinabaluense (N. Borneo).
- Grammatophyllum martae (Philippines ) - not validly published
- Grammatophyllum measuresianum (Philippines).
- Grammatophyllum multiflorumGrammatophyllum multiflorumGrammatophyllum multiflorum is a species of orchid....
(Philippines). - Grammatophyllum rumphianumGrammatophyllum rumphianumGrammatophyllum rumphianum is a species of orchid....
(Borneo, Maluku). - Grammatophyllum schmidtianum (Marianas).
- Grammatophyllum scriptumGrammatophyllum scriptumGrammatophyllum scriptum is a species of orchid....
: Bell Orchid (Malaysia to SW. Pacific).- Grammatophyllum scriptum var. boweri (Papuasia to Santa Cruz Is.)Hemicr. or cham.
- Grammatophyllum scriptum var. scriptum (Malaysia to SW. Pacific). Hemicr. or cham.
- Grammatophyllum speciosum : Giant OrchidGiant OrchidThe Giant Orchid, Grammatophyllum speciosum, also called Tiger Orchid, Sugar Cane Orchid or Queen of the Orchids, is the world's largest orchid...
, Tiger Orchid, Queen of Orchids (Indo-China to Solomon Is.) - type species - Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum (Malaysia, Philippines to New Guinea).