The genus ''Arachnis'', abbreviated as Arach in horticultural trade, (common name scorpion orchid,) is a member of the

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. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...

family (Orchidaceae), consisting of more than 20 species native to

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, the

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, and the

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.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
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Description

Vegetative characteristics

The appearance of the monopodial, epiphytic herbs of the genus ''Arachnis'' is characterized by distichously arranged, linear leaves. The vining plants may grow into a dense thicket. ''Arachnis'' does not produce pseudobulbs.Tan, K. W. (1974)
"Taxonomy of ''Arachnis'', ''Armodorum'', ''Esmeralda'' and ''Dimorphorchis'' (Orchidaceae)."
University of Miami.

Generative characteristics

The flowers are thought to resemble spiders, and they are fragrant. The fragrance has been described as musky.

Etymology

The generic epithet ''Arachnis'' is derived from the Greek word arachne for spider.

Ecology

Habitat

''Arachnis senapatiana'' has been found growing in subtropical broad-leaved forests at elevations of 1747 m above sea level.Jakha, H. Y., Deb, C. R., Dey, S., & Jamir, N. S. (2014)
"''Arachnis senapatiana'' (Phukan & AA Mao) Kocyan & Schuiteman (Orchidaceae): an addition to the flora of Nagaland, India."
Pleione, 8(2), 516-518.

Flowering

''Arachnis senapatiana'' is known to flower in June.

Taxonomy

Accepted species

There are currently 16 accepted species, including one natural hybrid: *'' Arachnis annamensis'' (Rolfe) J.J.Sm. *'' Arachnis bella'' (Rchb.f.) J.J.Sm. *'' Arachnis bouffordii'' Ormerod *'' Arachnis calcarata'' Holttum *'' Arachnis cathcartii'' (Lindl.) J.J.Sm. *'' Arachnis clarkei'' (Rchb.f.) J.J.Sm. *'' Arachnis flos-aeris'' (L.) Rchb.f. *'' Arachnis grandisepala'' J.J.Wood *'' Arachnis hookeriana'' (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. *'' Arachnis labrosa'' (Lindl. & Paxton) Rchb.f. *'' Arachnis limax'' Seidenf. *'' Arachnis longisepala'' (J.J.Wood) Shim & A.Lamb * ''Arachnis'' × ''maingayi'' (Hook.f.) Schltr. *'' Arachnis senapatiana'' (Phukan & A.A.Mao) Kocyan & Schuit. *'' Arachnis seramensis'' (Ormerod) R.Rice *'' Arachnis siamensis'' (Schltr.) Tang & F.T.Wang *'' Arachnis sulingi'' (Blume) Rchb.f.

Species formerly placed in ''Arachnis''

*''Arachnis beccarii'' Rchb.f. is now considered to be '' Dimorphorchis beccarii'' (Rchb.f.) Kocyan & Schuit. *''Arachnis breviscapa'' (J.J.Sm.) J.J.Sm. is now considered to be '' Dimorphorchis breviscapa'' (J.J.Sm.) Kocyan & Schuit. *''Arachnis celebica'' (Schltr.) J.J.Sm. is now considered to be '' Dimorphorchis celebica'' (Schltr.) Ormerod *''Arachnis imthurnii'' (Rolfe) L.O.Williams is now considered to be ''Dimorphorchis beccarii'' var. ''imthurnii'' (Rolfe) Kocyan & Schuit. *''Arachnis longicaulis'' (Schltr.) L.O.Williams is now considered to be ''Dimorphorchis breviscapa'' (J.J.Sm.) Kocyan & Schuit. *''Arachnis lowii'' (Lindl.) Rchb.f. is now considered to be '' Dimorphorchis lowii'' (Lindl.) Rolfe *''Arachnis lyonii'' Ames is now considered to be '' Dimorphorchis lyonii'' (Ames) Ormerod *''Arachnis muelleri'' (Kraenzl.) J.J.Sm. is now considered to be ''Dimorphorchis beccarii'' var. ''beccarii'' *''Arachnis philippinensis'' (Lindl.) Ames is now considered to be '' Trichoglottis philippinensis'' Lindl. *''Arachnis rohaniana'' (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. is now considered to be '' Dimorphorchis rohaniana'' (Rchb.f.) P.J.Cribb *''Arachnis beccarii'' var. ''imthurnii'' (Rolfe) K.W.Tan is now considered to be ''Dimorphorchis beccarii'' var. ''imthurnii'' (Rolfe) Kocyan & Schuit. *''Arachnis longicaulis'' f. ''flavescens'' Valmayor & D.Tiu is now considered to be ''Dimorphorchis breviscapa'' (J.J.Sm.) Kocyan & Schuit.

Conservation

''Arachnis'' has become extinct in Nansei-shoto.

Horticulture

It can be cultivated under warm and moist conditions growing in pots, baskets, or mounted on slabs.Rach, N. (n.d.). Arachnis Blume 1825. American Orchid Society. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://www.aos.org/orchids/orchids-a-to-z/letter-a/arachnis.aspx

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q133781, from2=Q1301809 Vandeae genera Orchids of China Orchids of India Orchids of Thailand Orchids of Vietnam Orchids of the Philippines Orchids of Malaysia Orchids of Indonesia Orchids of New Guinea