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''Catasetum'', abbreviated as Ctsm. in horticultural trade, is a
/ref>
The male flowers have a remarkable technique for the ejection of the 
Botanical Garden Munich: One of the most extensive photo collections of Catasetum.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133751 Catasetinae genera Dioecious plants
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of showy epiphytic Orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of floweri ...
s, family Orchidaceae, subfamily Epidendroideae
Epidendroideae is a subfamily of plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Epidendroideae is larger than all the other orchid subfamilies together, comprising more than 15,000 species in 576 genera. Most epidendroid orchids are tropical epiphytes ...
, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Catasetinae, with 166 species, many of which are highly prized in horticulture.
Species of the genus ''Catasetum'' occur from Mexico
Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...
to Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...
, including much of Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
, the West Indies
The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greate ...
, and South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sou ...
. The largest number of species is in Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families/ref>
Biology
They have thick, cigar-shapedpseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ found in many epiphytic and terrestrial sympodial orchids. It is derived from a thickening of the part of a stem between leaf nodes and may be composed of just one internode or several, termed heteroblastic and ...
s which are clustered. The leaves
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...
are pleated in the upper part and deciduous. The pseudobulbs become spiny after the leaves have dropped.
The 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. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are forme ...
is borne on the basis. It consists of very fleshy flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanis ...
s that are unisexual, which is exceptional for orchids. The colorful male and yellowish-green female flowers are typically situated on different plants, a phenomenon known as dioecy
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproducti ...
. Which type of flower a plant produces is determined by the conditions under which it grows. Male and female flowers are markedly different in size and color. At first, taxonomists even thought they were dealing with different species, a puzzle which Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended ...
resolved when writing ''Fertilisation of Orchids
''Fertilisation of Orchids'' is a book by English naturalist Charles Darwin published on 15 May 1862 under the full explanatory title ''On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects, and On the Good ...
''. There are rare cases in which a single plant in intermediate conditions will produce both male and female flowers.
The male flowers have a remarkable technique for the ejection of the pollinia A pollinium (plural pollinia) is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant that 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 mil ...
. Sack-Shaped Catasetum ('' Catasetum saccatum''), a tropical South American species, discussed by Darwin, actually launches its viscid pollen sacs with explosive force, when an insect touches a seta
In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.
Animal setae
Protostomes
Annelid setae are stiff bristles present on the body. ...
. He was ridiculed for reporting this by the naturalist Thomas Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley (4 May 1825 – 29 June 1895) was an English biologist and anthropologist specialising in comparative anatomy. He has become known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
The stori ...
.
In habitat, these plants predominantly grow as epiphyte
An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
s in very wet forests. Species of this genus all host wood-devouring mycorrhizal fungi which supplement the plants' nutrition by breaking down decomposing wood. Most of these species have a prolonged saprophytic stage in decomposing wood as seedlings before developing leaves and photosynthesis. Fungi which break down wood require a nitrogen
Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...
source since wood is primarily composed solely of hemi-cellulose, cellulose, and lignin and lacks nitrogen, and these plants are heavy feeders with high nitrogen requirements typically.
Many of these species are known to germinate in ant nests high in the canopy and host ant colonies, which provide the plants with an abundant supply of nitrogen, and they also host ants in cultivation frequently.The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. Most of these species are considered moderately difficult to maintain in cultivation without a greenhouse or Wardian case
The Wardian case was an early type of terrarium, a sealed protective container for plants. It found great use in the 19th century in protecting foreign plants imported to Europe from overseas, the great majority of which had previously died from ...
and some of them defy cultivation. Most of them cannot tolerate dryness and some of them have very specific temperature requirements. Some of these species are ant plants and attract ant colonies and can become a nuisance in cultivation.
Species
*''Catasetum aculeatum'' (Brazil) *''Catasetum adremedium'' (Peru) *''Catasetum alatum'' (Brazil) *''Catasetum albovirens'' (Brazil) *''Catasetum albuquerquei'' (Brazil) *''Catasetum arachnoideum'' (N. Brazil). *''Catasetum arietinum'' (Brazil). *''Catasetum aripuanense'' (Brazil). *''Catasetum ariquemense'' (Brazil) *'' Catasetum atratum'' : lustrous black catasetum (Brazil). *'' Catasetum barbatum'' : 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'' : 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'' : 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'' : comb-like catasetum (N. South America to N. Brazil). *''Catasetum cucullatum'' (Brazil). *''Catasetum decipiens'' (Venezuela). *'' Catasetum deltoideum'' : triangular catasetum (Guianas). *''Catasetum denticulatum'' : small-toothed catasetum (Brazil). *'' Catasetum discolor'' : differently colored catasetum (S. Trop. America). *''Catasetum dupliciscutula'' (Bolivia). *'' Catasetum expansum'' : expansive catasetum (Ecuador). *''Catasetum fernandezii'' (Peru). *''Catasetum ferox'' (S. Venezuela to Brazil). *'' Catasetum fimbriatum'' : fringed catasetum (S. Trop. America). *''Catasetum finetianum'' (Colombia). *''Catasetum franchinianum'' (Brazil). *''Catasetum fuchsii'' (Bolivia). *''Catasetum galeatum'' (Brazil). *'' Catasetum galeritum'' (N. Brazil). *''Catasetum georgii'' (N. Brazil). *''Catasetum gladiatorium'' (Brazil) *'' Catasetum globiflorum'' : spheroid-flowered catasetum (Brazil) *''Catasetum gnomus'' : gnome-like catasetum (S. Venezuela to N. Brazil) *''Catasetum gomezii'' (Venezuela). *''Catasetum hillsii'' (Peru. *''Catasetum hoehnei'' (Brazil) *''Catasetum hookeri'' (Brazil) *''Catasetum incurvum'' : bent catasetum (Ecuador to Peru). *'' Catasetum integerrimum'' : intact catasetum (Mexico to C. America). *''Catasetum interhomesianum'' (Bolivia). *''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'' : scaled catasetum (C. & SW. Mexico). *''Catasetum lanceatum'' (Brazil) . *''Catasetum lanxiforme'' (Peru). *''Catasetum lehmannii'' (Colombia) *'' Catasetum lemosii'' (N. Brazil). *''Catasetum lindleyanum'' (Colombia). *''Catasetum linguiferum'' (N. Brazil). *'' Catasetum longifolium'' (N. South America to N. Brazil). *''Catasetum longipes'' (Brazil) . *''Catasetum lucis'' (Colombia). *'' Catasetum luridum'' : pale-yellow catasetum (Guyana to E. Brazil). *'' Catasetum macrocarpum'' : monkey goblet, monkshead monk's head orchid, large-fruited catasetum (Trinidad and Tobago to N. Argentina). *''Catasetum macroglossum'' : large-lipped catasetum (Ecuador. *'' Catasetum maculatum'' : 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
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the ...
'' : 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'' : mother of pearl flower, felt-capped catasetum (Trinidad to Ecuador).
*'' Catasetum planiceps'' (N. South America to Brazil).
*''Catasetum platyglossum'' (Colombia).
*''Catasetum pleidactylon'' (Peru).
*''Catasetum poriferum'' (Guyana).
*''Catasetum pulchrum'' (Brazil).
*''Catasetum punctatum'' (Brazil).
*'' Catasetum purum'' : one-colored catasetum (Brazil)
*''Catasetum purusense'' (Peru.)
*''Catasetum pusillum'' (Peru)
*'' Catasetum randii'' (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 saccatum'' : sack-shaped catasetum (Trop. S. America).
*''Catasetum samaniegoi'' (Ecuador).
*''Catasetum sanguineum'' : red catasetum (Colombia to Venezuela).
*''Catasetum schmidtianum'' : Schmidt's catasetum (Brazil).
*''Catasetum schunkei'' (Peru).
*''Catasetum schweinfurthii'' (Peru.
*''Catasetum seccoi'' (Brazil).
*''Catasetum semicirculatum'' (Brazil).
*'' Catasetum socco'' ((SE. Brazil).
*''Catasetum spitzii'' : Spitz's catasetum (Brazil).
*''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 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 viridiflavum'' : green-yellow catasetum (C. America).
*''Catasetum yavitaense'' (Venezuela).
Natural hybrids
*''Catasetum × dunstervillei'' ( = C. discolor × C. pileatum) (Venezuela). *''Catasetum × guianense'' (= C. longifolium × C. macrocarpum) (Guianas). *''Catasetum × intermedium'' (Brazil). *''Catasetum × issanensis''(= C. longifolium × C. pileatum) (Brazil). *''Catasetum × pohlianum''(= C. hookeri × C. trulla) (Brazil) *''Catasetum × roseoalbum'' (Guianas). *''Catasetum × sodiroi'' (= C. expansum × C.macroglossum) (Ecuador). *''Catasetum × tapiriceps'' (N. Brazil). *''Catasetum × violascens'' : Purple Catasetum (W. South America). *''Catasetum × wendlingeri'' (Venezuela to Guyana).References
Further reading
* Dressler, Robert L. (1993) : Field guide to the orchids of Costa Rica and Panama, Cornell University PressExternal links
Botanical Garden Munich: One of the most extensive photo collections of Catasetum.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133751 Catasetinae genera Dioecious plants