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Catasetum

Catasetum

Overview
Catasetum, abbreviated as Ctsm in horticultural trade, is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...

 of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants . Its name is derived from the genus Orchis....

), subfamily Epidendroideae
Epidendroideae
The Epidendroideae, or epidendroid orchids, are a subfamily of the orchid family .The former subfamily Vandoideae has become a specialised clade within a more broadly defined Epidendroideae....

, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Catasetinae, with 166 species.

Species of the genus Catasetum occur from 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...

 to tropical America, with the majority in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...

.

They have thick, cigar-shaped 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 which are clustered. The leaves
Leaf
In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin. There is continued debate about whether the flatness of leaves evolved to expose the chloroplasts to more light or to increase the absorption of carbon dioxide. In...

 are pleated in the upper part and deciduous.
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Encyclopedia
Catasetum, abbreviated as Ctsm in horticultural trade, is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...

 of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants . Its name is derived from the genus Orchis....

), subfamily Epidendroideae
Epidendroideae
The Epidendroideae, or epidendroid orchids, are a subfamily of the orchid family .The former subfamily Vandoideae has become a specialised clade within a more broadly defined Epidendroideae....

, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Catasetinae, with 166 species.

Species of the genus Catasetum occur from 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...

 to tropical America, with the majority in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...

.

They have thick, cigar-shaped 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 which are clustered. The leaves
Leaf
In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin. There is continued debate about whether the flatness of leaves evolved to expose the chloroplasts to more light or to increase the absorption of carbon dioxide. In...

 are pleated in the upper part and deciduous. The pseudobulbs become spiny after the leaves have dropped.

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 borne on the basis. It consists of very fleshy 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 mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds...

s that are unisexual, which is exceptional for orchids. The colorful male and yellowish-green female flowers are typically situated on different plants. Which type of flower a plant produces is determined by the conditions under which it grows. There are rare cases in which a single plant in intermediate conditions will produce both male and female flowers. These flowers are markedly different in size and color. At first, taxonomists even thought they were dealing with different species.

The male flowers have a remarkable technique for the ejection of the pollinia
Pollinium
Pollinium, or plural pollinia, is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant.They are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkweeds .Most orchids have waxy pollinia...

. Sack-Shaped Catasetum (Catasetum saccatum), a tropical South American species, discussed briefly by Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist who realised and presented compelling evidence that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors, through the process he called natural selection...

, actually launches its viscid pollen sacs with explosive force, when an insect touches a seta
Seta
Seta is a biological term derived from the Latin word for "bristle". It refers to a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.-Animal setae:In zoology, most "setae" occur in invertebrates....

. He was ridiculed for reporting this by the naturalist Thomas Huxley
Thomas Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS was an English biologist, known as Darwin's Bulldog for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution....

  {Desmond, Adrian; Moore, James (1991), Darwin, London: Michael Joseph, Penguin Group, ISBN 0-7181-3430-3 page 510}.

Species

  • Catasetum aculeatum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum adremedium (Peru)
  • Catasetum alatum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum albovirens (Brazil)
  • Catasetum albuquerquei (Brazil)
  • Catasetum apertum
  • Catasetum arachnoideum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum arietinum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum aripuanense (Brazil).
  • Catasetum ariquemense (Brazil)
    • Catasetum ariquemense var. ariquemense (Brazil). Pseudobulb, epiphyte
    • Catasetum ariquemense var. viride (Brazil)
  • Catasetum atratum
    Catasetum atratum
    The Lustrous Black Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Lustrous Black Catasetum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum barbatum
    Catasetum barbatum
    The Bearded Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Bearded Catasetum (Trinidad to S. Trop. America).
  • Catasetum bergoldianum (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum bicallosum (S. Venezuela).
  • Catasetum bicolor : Two-colored Catasetum (Colombia to S. Venezuela)
  • Catasetum bifidum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum blackii (Brazil)
  • Catasetum blepharochilum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum boyi (Brazil ).
  • Catasetum brichtae (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum cabrutae (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum callosum
    Catasetum callosum
    The Callous Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Callused Catasetum (S. Trop. America).
  • Catasetum carolinianum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum carrenhianum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum carunculatum (Peru).
  • Catasetum cassideum (SE. Venezuela to N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum caucanum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum caxarariense (Brazil).
  • Catasetum cernuum
    Catasetum cernuum
    The Nodding Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Nodding Catasetum (Trinidad to Brazil).
  • Catasetum charlesworthii (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum cirrhaeoides : Cirrhaea-like Cataseum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum cochabambanum (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum collare (Venezuela to Ecuador and N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum colossus (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum complanatum (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum confusum : Confused Catasetum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum coniforme (Peru).
  • Catasetum cotylicheilum (Peru).
  • Catasetum crinitum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum cristatum
    Catasetum cristatum
    The Comb-like Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Comb-like Catasetum (N. South America to N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum cucullatum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum decipiens (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum deltoideum
    Catasetum deltoideum
    Catasetum deltoideum is a species of orchid....

     (Guianas).
  • Catasetum denticulatum : Small-toothed Catasetum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum discolor
    Catasetum discolor
    The Differently Colored Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Differently Colored Catasetum (S. Trop. America).




  • Catasetum × dunstervillei ( = C. discolor × C. pileatum) (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum dupliciscutula (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum expansum
    Catasetum expansum
    The Expansive Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Expansive Catasetum (Ecuador).
  • Catasetum fernandezii (Peru).
  • Catasetum ferox (S. Venezuela to Brazil).
  • Catasetum fimbriatum
    Catasetum fimbriatum
    The Fringed Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Fringed Catasetum ((S. Trop. America).
  • Catasetum finetianum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum franchinianum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum fuchsii (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum galeatum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum galeritum
    Catasetum galeritum
    Catasetum galeritum is a species of orchid....

     (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum georgii (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum gladiatorium (Brazil)
  • Catasetum globiflorum
    Catasetum globiflorum
    The Spheroid-flowered Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Spheroid-flowered Catasetum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum gnomus : Gnome-like Catasetum (S. Venezuela to N. Brazil)
  • Catasetum gomezii (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum × guianense (= C. longifolium × C. macrocarpum) (Guianas).
  • Catasetum hillsii (Peru.
  • Catasetum hoehnei (Brazil)
  • Catasetum hookeri (Brazil)
  • Catasetum incurvum : Bent Catasetum (Ecuador to Peru).
  • Catasetum integerrimum
    Catasetum integerrimum
    The Intact Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Intact Catasetum (Mexico to C. America).
  • Catasetum interhomesianum (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum × intermedium (Brazil).
  • Catasetum × issanensis(= C. longifolium × C. pileatum) (Brazil).
  • Catasetum japurense (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum jarae : Jara's Catasetum (Peru).
  • Catasetum juruenense : Rio Jurua Catasetum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum justinianum (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum kempfii (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum kleberianum : Kleber's Catasetum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum kraenzlinianum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum laminatum
    Catasetum laminatum
    The Scaled Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Scaled Catasetum (C. & SW. Mexico).
  • Catasetum lanceatum (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum lanxiforme (Peru).
  • Catasetum lehmannii (Colombia)
  • Catasetum lemosii
    Catasetum lemosii
    Catasetum lemosii is a species of orchid....

     (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum lindleyanum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum linguiferum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum longifolium
    Catasetum longifolium
    Catasetum longifolium is a species of orchid....

     (N. South America to N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum longipes (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum lucis (Colombia).
  • Catasetum luridum
    Catasetum luridum
    The Pale-yellow Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Pale-yellow Catasetum (Guyana to E. Brazil).
  • Catasetum macrocarpum
    Catasetum macrocarpum
    The Large-fruited Catasetum is a species of orchid. It is also known as the Monkey Goblet and Monk's Head Orchid....

     : Monkey Goblet, Monkshead Monk's Head Orchid, Large-fruited Catasetum (Trinidad and Tobago to N. Argentina).
  • Catasetum macroglossum : Large-lipped Catasetum (Ecuador.
  • Catasetum maculatum
    Catasetum maculatum
    The Spotted Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Spotted Catasetum (C. America to Venezuela).

  • Catasetum maranhense (NE. Brazil).
  • Catasetum maroaense (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum matogrossense (Brazil)
  • Catasetum meeae (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum mentosum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum merchae (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum micranthum (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum microglossum (Ecuador to Peru).
  • Catasetum mojuense (Brazil)
  • Catasetum monodon (Brazil
  • Catasetum monzonense (Peru).
  • Catasetum moorei : Moore's Catasetum (Peru).
  • Catasetum multifidum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum multifissum (Peru).
  • Catasetum nanayanum (Peru).
  • Catasetum napoense (Ecuador to Peru).
  • Catasetum naso
    Catasetum naso
    The Nose Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Nose Catasetum (Colombia to Venezuela).
  • Catasetum ochraceum : Ochre-yellow Catasetum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum ollare (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum ornithoides (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum osakadianum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum osculatum (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum palmeirinhense (Brazil).
  • Catasetum parguazense : Paraguaza River Catasetum (Venezuela).
  • Catasetum pendulum : Pendant Catasetum (W. Mexico).
  • Catasetum peruvianum (Peru).
  • Catasetum pileatum
    Catasetum pileatum
    The Felt-capped Catasetum or Mother of Pearl Flower is a species of orchid....

     : Mother of Pearl Flower, Felt-capped Catasetum (Trinidad to Ecuador).
  • Catasetum planiceps
    Catasetum planiceps
    Catasetum planiceps is a species of orchid....

     (N. South America to Brazil).
  • Catasetum platyglossum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum pleidactylon (Peru).
  • Catasetum × pohlianum(= C. hookeri × C. trulla) (Brazil)
  • Catasetum poriferum (Guyana).
  • Catasetum pulchrum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum punctatum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum purum
    Catasetum purum
    The One-colored Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : One-colored Catasetum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum purusense (Peru.)
  • Catasetum pusillum (Peru)
  • Catasetum randii
    Catasetum randii
    Catasetum randii is a species of orchid....

     (Brazil).
  • Catasetum regnellii (Brazil).
  • Catasetum reichenbachianum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum richteri (Brazil)
  • Catasetum ricii (Bolivia).
  • Catasetum rigidum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum rivularium (Brazil).
  • Catasetum rohrii (S. Brazil).
  • Catasetum rolfeanum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum rondonense (Brazil)
  • Catasetum rooseveltianum : Roosevelt's Catasetum (Brazil)
  • Catasetum × roseoalbum (Guianas).
  • Catasetum saccatum
    Catasetum saccatum
    The Sack-shaped Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Sack-Shaped Catasetum (Trop. S. America).
  • Catasetum samaniegoi (Ecuador).
  • Catasetum sanguineum : Red Catasetum (Colombia to Venezuela).
    • Catasetum sanguineum var. sanguineum (Colombia to Venezuela). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Catasetum sanguineum var. viride (Colombia to Venezuela).
  • Catasetum schmidtianum : Schmidt's Catasetum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum schunkei (Peru).
  • Catasetum schweinfurthii (Peru.
  • Catasetum seccoi (Brazil).
  • Catasetum semicirculatum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum socco
    Catasetum socco
    Catasetum socco is a species of orchid....

     ((SE. Brazil).
  • Catasetum × sodiroi (= C. expansum × C.macroglossum) (Ecuador).
  • Catasetum spitzii : Spitz's Catasetum (Brazil).
    • Catasetum spitzii var. album (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Catasetum spitzii var. christyanum (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Catasetum spitzii var. sanguineum (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Catasetum spitzii var. spitzii (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
  • Catasetum splendens (Venezuela to N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum stenoglossum (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum stevensonii (Ecuador to Peru).
  • Catasetum tabulare : Table-Like Catasetum (Colombia).
  • Catasetum taguariense (Brazil).
  • Catasetum × tapiriceps (N. Brazil).
  • Catasetum taquariense (WC. Brazil).
  • Catasetum tenebrosum : Dark-brown Catasetum (Ecuador to Peru).
  • Catasetum tenuiglossum (Peru).
  • Catasetum thompsonii (Guyana).
  • Catasetum tigrinum : Tiger-striped Catasetum (Brazil).
  • Catasetum transversicallosum (Peru).
  • Catasetum trautmannii (Peru).
  • Catasetum tricolor (Guatemala).
  • Catasetum tricorne (Colombia).
  • Catasetum triodon (S. Brazil).
  • Catasetum tuberculatum (Colombia to Peru).
  • Catasetum tucuruiense (Brazil).
  • Catasetum uncatum (Brazil) .
  • Catasetum variabile (Brazil).
  • Catasetum vinaceum (WC. Brazil).
    • Catasetum vinaceum var. album (Brazil) Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Catasetum vinaceum var. splendidum (Brazil). Pseudobulb epiphyte
    • Catasetum vinaceum var. vinaceum (Brazil) . Pseudobulb epiphyte
  • Catasetum × violascens : Purple Catasetum (W. South America).
  • Catasetum viridiflavum
    Catasetum viridiflavum
    The Green-yellow Catasetum is a species of orchid....

     : Green-yellow Catasetum (C. America).
  • Catasetum × wendlingeri (Venezuela to Guyana).
  • Catasetum yavitaense (Venezuela).

Further reading

  • Dressler, Robert L. (1993) : Field guide to the orchids of Costa Rica and Panama, Cornell University Press

External links