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''Rhynchostylis retusa'' (also called foxtail orchid) is an orchid, belonging to the ''Vanda'' alliance. The inflorescence is a pendant raceme, consisting of more than 100 pink-spotted white flowers. The plant has a short, stout, creeping stem carrying up to 12, curved, fleshy, deeply channeled, keeled, retuse apically leaves and blooms on an axillary pendant to long, racemose, densely flowered, cylindrical inflorescence that occurs in the winter and early spring. It is famous for its use as a hair-ornament worn by Assamese women during folk dance Bihu on the onset of spring.
The plant is an epiphyte growing on tree trunks in open forests or at forest margins at elevations of . It can be found in Bhutan, Cambodia, China (Guizhou, Yunnan), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In India, the plant is most common in North-East, Orissa, India, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, the plant is called by Telugu language, Telugu name Chintaranamu. Due to bio-piracy, the plant is on the verge of extinction in India. Rhychostylis retusa is recognized as the state flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India as well the Uva Province of Sri Lanka.
"Rhynchostylis page"
Orchid Species.com. Retrieved on 2013-03-18.
File:Rhynchostylis retusa flower transformation.ogg, Transformation of ''Rhynchostylis retusa'' from flower buds to seeds.
File:Rhynchostylis retusa buds 0.jpg, New Buds of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa buds 1.jpg, New Buds of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa buds 3.jpg, Buds of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa buds 4.jpg, Buds of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa buds 5.jpg, Buds of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa buds 7.jpg, Buds of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa bloom.jpg, Flowers of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa flower.jpg, Flowers of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa flowers 2.jpg, Flowers of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa flowers.jpg, Flowers of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 0.jpg, New fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 1.jpg, New fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 2.jpg, New fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 4.jpg, Fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 5.jpg, Fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 6.jpg, Fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa fruits 7.jpg, Matured fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa seeds 1.jpg, Matured fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa seeds.jpg, Matured fruits of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis retusa roots.jpg, New roots of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
File:Rhynchostylis-retusa.jpg, Flowers of ''Rhynchostylis retusa''
Distribution
The plant is an epiphyte growing on tree trunks in open forests or at forest margins at elevations of . It can be found in Bhutan, Cambodia, China (Guizhou, Yunnan), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In India, the plant is most common in North-East, Orissa, India, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, the plant is called by Telugu language, Telugu name Chintaranamu. Due to bio-piracy, the plant is on the verge of extinction in India. Rhychostylis retusa is recognized as the state flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India as well the Uva Province of Sri Lanka.
Care
The plant requires regular watering and applications of fertilizer throughout the year, although it will die if the leaves are wet frequently. It prefers indirect lighting. Flowering usually occurs in late spring.(1998-01-20)"Rhynchostylis page"
Orchid Species.com. Retrieved on 2013-03-18.
Medicinal uses
In Malabar District various preparations of the plant were used against asthma and tuberculosis and for 'nervous twitchings' (referable possibly to tic disorder), cramp, epileptic spasms, vertigo, palpitations, kidney stone and menstrual disorder. The plant has also been used in Assam to treat wounds, cuts and bruises. The plant has been used as an emollient in India and Nepal. Under the name of ''rasna'' the root is used to treat rheumatism throughout the Indian subcontinent.Orchid Biology: Reviews and Perspectives, III ed. Arditti,Joseph,pub.Comstock Publishing Associates - a division of Cornell University Press 1984 (v.1) : Chapter 2 : Ethnobotany of the Orchidaceae by Lawler,Leonard J. page 101Significance in Assamese culture
The species is the state flower of Assam, where it is popularly known as কপৌ ফুল (Kopou Ful), and is an integral part of a Bihu dancer's attire. The plant is considered to be a symbol of love, fertility and merriment and is popular in Assamese wedding ceremonies.Gallery
References
External links
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q2221728 Rhynchostylis, retusa Orchids of Asia Flora of Assam (region) Orchids of Bangladesh Flora of Bhutan Orchids of Cambodia Orchids of China Orchids of Assam Orchids of Indonesia Orchids of Laos Orchids of Malaysia Orchids of Myanmar Orchids of Nepal Orchids of the Philippines Orchids of Singapore Orchids of Sri Lanka Orchids of Thailand Orchids of Vietnam Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus