Phymatochilum
Encyclopedia
Phymatochilum brasiliense is an orchid species, inhabitant of Serra do Mar
mountains in Brazil
ian southeast and northeast, which vegetatively resembles Oncidium
species, however, is more closely related to the genus Miltonia
. It is the only species of the genus Phymatochilum.
, Minas Gerais
and Pernambuco
States of Brazil, particularly in the warmer areas around Serra do Mar
chain of mountains, where it is somewhat rare. It grows under the shadow of tree
s, however, mostly near the jungles well ventilated clearances where it can get brighter light, between 600 and 1,300 meters of altitude
in dryer areas. It ordinarily grows over the trees where the shade is not intense, on thick branches.
s shooting from a highly short and robust rhyzome which gives birth to aggregated pseudobulb
s. The pseudobulbs are erect, smooth and light green when young and later minutely wrinkled and brownish green, very robust and large, which may vary form slightly fusiform to the most common rounded shape although clearly flattened that bears one leaf
only At the base the pseudobulbs are protected by four large distichous, carinated, imbricating and subequitant bracts, the longest of them the same length of the pseudobulb. The leaf is erect, slightly concave and curved, leathery and thick, rigid despite somewhat flexible, meaning it will not break when it is slightly curved; at the base it is folded; green on the face, presenting numerous nervures, paler and brownish on the back where it shows a salient medium nerve. The inflorescence
is basal, slender, pale green with subtle minute purple dots, highly alternately branched and large, sometimes bearing hundreds of flower
s placed at regular distances.
The flowers have a rounded but slightly triangular ovary
; their segments are wide opened with yellow green sepal
s and petal
s, transversally stained or striped of brown; and white labellum
with a yellow warted callus close to the base surrounded by brown orange stains. The sepals and petals are linear, elongated and highly acute, curved at the apexes, the petals slightly shorter and wider that the sepals and the sepals more twisted than the petals. The labellum is slightly convex, shorter than the other segments, almost flat, three lobed, the lateral ones are rounded forming tow auricles and the intermediate is triangular, highly pointed and spotless. The column
is curved with two large often laciniated wings lateral to the stigma and a terminal anther. Phymatochilum brasiliense blooms between from the end of summer
to middle autumn
and its sweet fragrant flowers last for about two weeks. There is no reference about their pollinators.
Although closely related to Miltonia, Phymatochilum brasiliense does not have many morphologic characteristics in common with them: It presents much more robust pseudobulbs and leaves, which also are of different color and shapes. The rhyzome is shorter; the psudobulbs closer to each other, much fleshier and more fibrous, almost rounded, darker. The leaves are much wider, leathery, thicker, darker and clearly veined, in all with an aspect that reminds the one of Maxillaria setigera. The inflorescence is branched, almost three times taller than the leaves, bearing more than a hundred small Oncidium
type flowers.
Phymatochilum brasiliense is not hard to grow. Their roots are somewhat sensitive excessive humidity therefore it is important they are potted in a well drained substrate
and placed in a warm and well ventilated location at the greenhouse
. As they show a rest period after blooming, it is beneficial to reduce watering while they are not in active growth period, and resume abundant watering again during active growth. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of vegetable fiber and some medium sized lumps of charcoal
. As they usually inhabit sunny areas they enjoy a good amount of light
, although never full sunlight
, therefore the best place for them is the sunnier in the greenhouse, the same where the Cattleya
are.
For some unknown reason there is a number of original descriptions by John Lindley
, of plants received from Loddiges, that record Mexico
, instead of Brazil, as the country of origin of the plants. It is not known if this information came from Loddiges, whether they were later confusions at the herbarium or either if it was a mistake on transport records. Some of these mistakes, particularly when occurred with less noticeable plants as Pabstiella crenata are still been solved. Some of these descriptions yet have to be cleared. The description of Phymatochilum brasiliense was one of these mistakes. This species is not recorded in Mexico or Central America
after this early records. Anyway, in 1847, Lindley received two different plants one from Loddiges and another from reverend Clowes, from Liverpool, an orchid enthusiast Lindley homaged when describing Miltonia clowesii
, and the following year he described it under the genus Oncidium as O. phymatochilum, chossing this name in reference to the warted labellum of its flowers.
Phymatochilum brasiliense, whose flowers are very similar to the ones of Oncidium was in fact considered a member of this genus until 2001 when, based on the results of their molecular analysis, it was moved by Norris Williams and Mark Chase to the genus Miltonia. On the transfer publication they claim that, despite the morphologic differences, the relationship is very close and, supposedly, they did not want to propose a new genus to subordinate one species only. As this species shows a morphology that is closer to Oncidium species than to Miltonia, because of its small yellowish flowers and highly branched inflorescence, this result and following transfer was a great surprise to most taxonomists. Therefore, in 2005, Eric Christenson suggested a new genus and the name Phymatochilum brasiliense for it. There is no consensus about the name to be generally accepted as yet.
Molecular analysis shows that Phymatochilum most closely related genus is Miltonia
and then Aspasia
, Brassia
and Ada
, which are the most important genera included in this that is one of the eight clades that form the subtribus Oncidiinae
of tribus Cymbidieae
.
Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil, which runs in parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of Espírito Santo to southern Santa Catarina, although some include Serra Geral in the Serra do Mar, in which case this range...
mountains in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian southeast and northeast, which vegetatively resembles Oncidium
Oncidium
Oncidium, abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family . This is a complex, difficult genus, with many species being reclassified...
species, however, is more closely related to the genus Miltonia
Miltonia
Miltonia, abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus formed by nine epiphyte species and eight natural hybrids inhabitants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one species reaching the northeast of Argentina and east of Paraguay. This genus was established by John Lindley in...
. It is the only species of the genus Phymatochilum.
Distribution and habit
Phymatochilum brasiliense is a comparatively large sympodial epiphyte species which inhabits high areas of the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito SantoEspírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
, Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
and Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
States of Brazil, particularly in the warmer areas around Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil, which runs in parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of Espírito Santo to southern Santa Catarina, although some include Serra Geral in the Serra do Mar, in which case this range...
chain of mountains, where it is somewhat rare. It grows under the shadow of tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, however, mostly near the jungles well ventilated clearances where it can get brighter light, between 600 and 1,300 meters of altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
in dryer areas. It ordinarily grows over the trees where the shade is not intense, on thick branches.
Description
Phymatochilum brasiliense presents a large number of robust, long and simple or slightly branched rootRoot
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 shooting from a highly short and robust rhyzome which gives birth to aggregated 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. The pseudobulbs are erect, smooth and light green when young and later minutely wrinkled and brownish green, very robust and large, which may vary form slightly fusiform to the most common rounded shape although clearly flattened that bears one leaf
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....
only At the base the pseudobulbs are protected by four large distichous, carinated, imbricating and subequitant bracts, the longest of them the same length of the pseudobulb. The leaf is erect, slightly concave and curved, leathery and thick, rigid despite somewhat flexible, meaning it will not break when it is slightly curved; at the base it is folded; green on the face, presenting numerous nervures, paler and brownish on the back where it shows a salient medium nerve. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is basal, slender, pale green with subtle minute purple dots, highly alternately branched and large, sometimes bearing hundreds of 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 placed at regular distances.
The flowers have a rounded but slightly triangular ovary
Ovary
The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in anatomically female individuals are analogous to testes in anatomically male individuals, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.-Human anatomy:Ovaries...
; their segments are wide opened with yellow green sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s, transversally stained or striped of brown; and white labellum
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
with a yellow warted callus close to the base surrounded by brown orange stains. The sepals and petals are linear, elongated and highly acute, curved at the apexes, the petals slightly shorter and wider that the sepals and the sepals more twisted than the petals. The labellum is slightly convex, shorter than the other segments, almost flat, three lobed, the lateral ones are rounded forming tow auricles and the intermediate is triangular, highly pointed and spotless. The column
Column (botany)
The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....
is curved with two large often laciniated wings lateral to the stigma and a terminal anther. Phymatochilum brasiliense blooms between from the end of summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
to middle autumn
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
and its sweet fragrant flowers last for about two weeks. There is no reference about their pollinators.
Although closely related to Miltonia, Phymatochilum brasiliense does not have many morphologic characteristics in common with them: It presents much more robust pseudobulbs and leaves, which also are of different color and shapes. The rhyzome is shorter; the psudobulbs closer to each other, much fleshier and more fibrous, almost rounded, darker. The leaves are much wider, leathery, thicker, darker and clearly veined, in all with an aspect that reminds the one of Maxillaria setigera. The inflorescence is branched, almost three times taller than the leaves, bearing more than a hundred small Oncidium
Oncidium
Oncidium, abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family . This is a complex, difficult genus, with many species being reclassified...
type flowers.
Phymatochilum brasiliense is not hard to grow. Their roots are somewhat sensitive excessive humidity therefore it is important they are potted in a well drained substrate
Substrate (biology)
In biology a substrate is the surface a plant or animal lives upon and grows on. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock can be substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae. See also substrate .-External...
and placed in a warm and well ventilated location at the greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
. As they show a rest period after blooming, it is beneficial to reduce watering while they are not in active growth period, and resume abundant watering again during active growth. Moderate weekly fertilizing with a balanced formula is beneficial during active growth. They may be potted in a compost of vegetable fiber and some medium sized lumps of charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
. As they usually inhabit sunny areas they enjoy a good amount of light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
, although never full sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
, therefore the best place for them is the sunnier in the greenhouse, the same where the Cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
are.
Taxonomic notes
| Measures (mm) | ||
| Structure | Length | Width |
| Rhizome | 15 | 15 |
| Leaf | 500 | 100 |
| Pseudobulb | 100 | 70 |
| Inflorescence | 1800 | - |
| Flower | 50 | 25 |
| Sepal | 35 | 3 |
| Petal | 25 | 3 |
| Labellum | 18 | 12 |
For some unknown reason there is a number of original descriptions by John Lindley
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
, of plants received from Loddiges, that record Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, instead of Brazil, as the country of origin of the plants. It is not known if this information came from Loddiges, whether they were later confusions at the herbarium or either if it was a mistake on transport records. Some of these mistakes, particularly when occurred with less noticeable plants as Pabstiella crenata are still been solved. Some of these descriptions yet have to be cleared. The description of Phymatochilum brasiliense was one of these mistakes. This species is not recorded in Mexico or Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
after this early records. Anyway, in 1847, Lindley received two different plants one from Loddiges and another from reverend Clowes, from Liverpool, an orchid enthusiast Lindley homaged when describing Miltonia clowesii
Miltonia clowesii
Miltonia clowesii, the Clowes' Miltonia, is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern Brazil....
, and the following year he described it under the genus Oncidium as O. phymatochilum, chossing this name in reference to the warted labellum of its flowers.
Phymatochilum brasiliense, whose flowers are very similar to the ones of Oncidium was in fact considered a member of this genus until 2001 when, based on the results of their molecular analysis, it was moved by Norris Williams and Mark Chase to the genus Miltonia. On the transfer publication they claim that, despite the morphologic differences, the relationship is very close and, supposedly, they did not want to propose a new genus to subordinate one species only. As this species shows a morphology that is closer to Oncidium species than to Miltonia, because of its small yellowish flowers and highly branched inflorescence, this result and following transfer was a great surprise to most taxonomists. Therefore, in 2005, Eric Christenson suggested a new genus and the name Phymatochilum brasiliense for it. There is no consensus about the name to be generally accepted as yet.
Molecular analysis shows that Phymatochilum most closely related genus is Miltonia
Miltonia
Miltonia, abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus formed by nine epiphyte species and eight natural hybrids inhabitants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one species reaching the northeast of Argentina and east of Paraguay. This genus was established by John Lindley in...
and then Aspasia
Aspasia (orchid)
Aspasia, abbreviated as Asp. in the horticultural trade, is a genus of 7 species of orchids occurring from southern Mexico to southern Brazil. The genus is closely related to Miltonia and Brassia...
, Brassia
Brassia
Brassia is a genus of orchids classified in the Oncidiinae subtribe.The genus was named after William Brass, a British botanist and illustrator, who collected plants in Africa under the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks...
and Ada
Ada (orchid)
Ada, abbreviated as Ada in horticultural trade, is a genus of 16 species in the orchid family , subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Oncidiinae, alliance Oncidium. The type species is Ada aurantiaca....
, which are the most important genera included in this that is one of the eight clades that form the subtribus Oncidiinae
Oncidiinae
The Oncidiinae is a subtribe within the Orchidaceae that consists of a number of genera that are closely related.This subtribe consists of about 70 genera with over 1000 species, with Oncidium as its largest genus. These genera consist of a single floral type based on the angle of the attachment of...
of tribus Cymbidieae
Cymbidieae
The Cymbidieae is a tribe within the family of orchids....
.