Tolumnia variegata

Tolumnia variegata
Illustration of Tolumnia variegata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Tolumnia
Species:	T. variegata
Binomial name
Tolumnia variegata (Sw.) Braem
Synonyms [2]
Epidendrum variegatumSw. Epidendrum carinatum Vahl Cymbidium variegatum(Sw.) Sw. Oncidium variegatum(Sw.) Sw. Oncidium velutinum Lindl. & Paxton Oncidium leiboldii Rchb.f. Oncidium variegatum var. velutinum(Lindl. & Paxton) Griseb. Epidendrum haseltonianum A.D.Hawkes Oncidium leiboldii var. album Moir & A.D.Hawkes Oncidium leiboldii var. majusMoir & A.D.Hawkes Oncidium variegatum var. purpureumMoir & A.D.Hawkes Oncidium variegatum var. roseumMoir & A.D.Hawkes Oncidium velutinum var. purpureumMoir Oncidium caymanenseMoir Oncidium furcyenseMoir Oncidium cubenseMoir Oncidium varvelumMoir Oncidium variegatum f. album(Moir & A.D.Hawkes) Withner Oncidium variegatum f. furcyense(Moir) Withner Oncidium variegatum f. majus(Moir & A.D.Hawkes) Withner Oncidium variegatum f. purpureum(Moir) Withner Oncidium variegatum f. roseum(Moir & A.D.Hawkes) Withner Oncidium variegatum f. varvelum(Moir) Withner Oncidium variegatum subsp. leiboldii(Rchb.f.) Withner Oncidium variegatum subsp. velutinum(Lindl. & Paxton) Withner Tolumnia caymanensis(Moir) Braem Tolumnia leiboldii(Rchb.f.) Braem Tolumnia velutina(Lindl. & Paxton) Braem Tolumnia borinquinensisSauleda & Ragan

Tolumnia variegata, commonly known as the harlequin dancing-lady orchid or variegated oncidium in English and as angelito or angelitos in Spanish, is a species of orchid native to the Caribbean. ^[1]

Distribution and habitat

T. variegata is native to the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. ^[1] It inhabits both moist and dry forests at all but the highest elevations, and is the most widespread member of the genus Tolumnia . ^[3]

Description

T. variegata is a stoloniferous plant with flattened pseudobulbs. Plants are variable in size. The leaves are long with a pointed tip, measuring approximately 12 cm (4.7 in) long and 1.5 cm (0.59 in) wide. The inflorescence grows to 40 cm (16 in) long, bearing up to 30 flowers. ^[4] The flowers are highly variable in size, shape, and colouration, but are usually white (sometimes pink) with a yellow column and brown to purple spots on the labellum. ^[5]

Ecology

T. variegata is an epiphyte that grows on the branches of trees and shrubs, including calabash, guava, citrus, and coffee plants. Flowering occurs in spring and fall. ^[3]

References

1. Roberts, A. (2014). "Tolumnia variegata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014 e.T62100347A62100403. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T62100347A62100403.en . Retrieved 17 March 2024.{{cite iucn}}: uses deprecated |page= identifier (help)
2. "Tolumnia variegata (Sw.) Braem". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
3. Ackerman, James D. (1992). The Orchids of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (Las Orquídeas de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes). University of Puerto Rico. p. 86. ISBN   0847723429.
4. Llamacho, Juan A.; Larramendi, Julio A. (2005). The Orchids of Cuba (Las Orquídeas de Cuba). Greta Editores. p. 68. ISBN   9788493361525.
5. Calvo, Ricardo N. (1993). "Evolutionary Demography of Orchids: Intensity and Frequency of Pollination and the Cost of Fruiting". Ecology . 74 (4). Ecological Society of America: 1033–1042. Bibcode:1993Ecol...74.1033C. doi:10.2307/1940473. JSTOR   1940473.