2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Ascocentrum (lat. Ascocentrum) - a genus of herbaceous epiphytic perennial plants with bright inflorescences, belonging to the Orchid family (Latin Orchidaceae). Plants of the humid tropics, orchids of the genus Ascocentrum and their many-sided hybrids with plants of other genera of the family have become popular members of the plant communities of botanical gardens, greenhouses and indoor windowsills, in which people have taken care of creating comfortable conditions for their life.
What's in your name
The genus of orchids "Ascocentrum" was first described by the German botanist Rudolf Schlechter, whose full name is Friedrich Richard Rudolph Schlechter (16.10.1872 - 15.11.1925), who dedicated several of his works to plants of the genus Orchid.
The Latin name of the genus "Ascocentrum" is based on two Greek words, which translated into Russian mean: "bag" and "spur". The reason was the structure of the flower of plants, at the base of the lip of which there is a large spur for collecting and storing nectar.
In the floriculture literature, the genus name is reduced to 5 letters - “
Asctm . You can also find a synonym name under the photographs with plants of this genus - “
Ascolabium ».
Description
Plants of the genus Ascocentrum are more often epiphytes, that is, they grow on trees of tropical forests, feeding on the sun's rays and the surrounding humid air. To do this, their roots float freely in the air, and do not strive deep into the ground. Less commonly, they are lithophytes, capable of living on rocky or stony land areas.
Ascocentrum are not very tall and are considered "miniature orchids", representing low-growing plants with green belt-like leaves that can be erect, or smoothly curving their tips to a horizontal surface. In appearance, they are very similar to plants of the genus Vanda (Latin Vanda) of the Orchid family and often form joint hybrids with them.
A drooping or erect racemose inflorescence is formed by numerous small flowers looking out at the world with their wide-open petals. The small size of the flowers does not prevent them from having a complex structure, characteristic of all orchid flowers. On the back of the “lip” there is a “spur” or “nectary” that attracts pollinating insects.
The color of the flowers is bright and varied: yellow, pink, crimson, orange, red, purple …
Varieties
The genus Ascocentrum is not numerous. According to some reports, it unites 13 species in its ranks, one of which has two subspecies. The number of species in different literary sources may differ from the indicated one.
A large number of intergeneric orchid hybrids have been bred, in which species of the genus Ascocentrum, famous for their bright flowers, took an active part.
All plant species of the genus Ascocentrum are protected by the International Convention on Trade in Species of Wild Plants in order to protect them from the threat of extinction from the face of the Earth.
Usage
The compact shape and a variety of bright colors of flowers have turned the species of the Ascocentrum genus into popular greenhouse and indoor plants. True, for successful development and abundant bright flowering, orchids require a number of conditions for their environment.
For plants accustomed to warmth, high humidity and an abundance of light, it is very important to maintain the temperature within the range of 18-23 degrees Celsius in the summer and at least 15 degrees in the winter.
To maintain the required air humidity in the range of 60 to 90 percent, watering is carried out throughout the 12 months of the year. Watering frequency depends on the growing method: on a bark fragment (or "on a block"), in a basket for epiphytes, in a ceramic or plastic pot. More frequent watering is required for plants grown on blocks.
Orchids should also be provided with diffused bright light, like in a rainforest.
Only under favorable living conditions will plants respond to the florist with brightness and an abundance of flowering.
