2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Galeander (lat. Galeandra) - a genus of herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the Orchid family (Latin Orchidaceae). Plants of this genus in nature can be epiphytes or lithophytes, and in culture they can even be grown as terrestrial plants in a well-drained nutrient mixture or in baskets. Most species exhibit very showy flowers, forming few-flowered racemose inflorescences that are born from the tops of pseudobulbs.
What's in your name
In the Latin name of the genus "Galeandra" there are two words: the Latin word "galea" meaning "helmet" and the Greek word "andros" meaning "male." The reason for this name was the shape of the anther cap, similar to the helmet of an ancient warrior.
The genus "Galeandra" was proposed in 1830 by the English botanist John Lindley (1799-02-05 - 1865-11-01).
The type species of the genus is the plant "Galeandra baueri".
The Latin name of the genus has synonyms, including the following - “
Corydandra ».
In the literature on floriculture, the name of the genus uses an abbreviation of three letters - “
Gal ».
Description
Most species of the genus Galeander are epiphytic plants that live on trees that grow at low altitudes (up to 500 meters above sea level). Species growing at high altitudes are either lithophytes or terrestrial creatures.
Plants of the genus Galeander are of the sympodial type of growth, growing from small to medium size. A characteristic feature of the genus are elongated, cylindrical or spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, from the nodes of which thin and narrow leaves are born.
From the top of the pseudobulb, a peduncle appears into the world, bearing a racemose inflorescence formed by a different number of flowers, from a few pieces to a multi-flowered creature. Most species exhibit very showy flowers of all colors with tubular lips and a well-defined spur.
Varieties
The number of species in the genus, like in most plants of the Orchid family, is a variable, due to the large number and diversity of the representatives of the family, which have not yet been sufficiently studied by botanists. With a more meticulous study of botany, then one genus is divided into several, then some of the species are transferred from one genus to another. Today, about 40 plant species are in the described genus.
The most famous types are:
* Galeandra baueri
* Galeandra batemanii
* Galeandra devoniana
* Galeandra stangeana
* Galeandra lacustris
* Galeandra dives
* Galeandra minax
Cultural use
Beautiful inflorescences of plants of the genus, distinguished by flowers with a spectacular tubular lip and a variety of colors of flower petals, have made many species of the genus Galeander popular greenhouse and indoor plants.
Due to the fact that in the wild, different species live in different climatic conditions, you can always choose a species for any temperature zone - from warm to cold.
For growing orchids of the genus Galeander, different types of planting are suitable. These can be special baskets for epiphytic plants; ceramic or plastic pots filled with a well-drained mixture, since moisture stagnation is destructive for most orchid species; or landing on the block.
Beautifully flowering species of the genus are used to create hybrids, of which there are already a great many.
Protecting orchids from poaching and threats of extinction
People tend to use the beauty of the plant world for their own interests, which are not always consistent with the consequences of the barbaric destruction of rare plant species that are gradually disappearing from the face of the planet.
People who are not indifferent to the future of the plant world of the Earth are trying to reach out to the consciousness of people, establishing restrictions and rules that should be guided by those who are involved in the trade in wild plants.
