Calanthe × dominyi

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  • Calanthe
Calanthe × dominyi Lindl., Gard. Chron. 1858: 4 1858. ;
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SE. China to Temp. E. Asia: China Southeast, Japan, Nansei-shoto, Taiwan as per POWO;
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Common name: Dominy’s Calanthe
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ID Request-Munnar-PKA2 : 7 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (4)

This herb was also spotted in Shola forest near Munnar.
Date/Time: 04/09/2018, 3:00PM
Plant Ht: approx. 1 to 2 ft.
This herb was with creamy white flowers.

Calanthe sps of orchid – identified by …. Same orchid we saw on the way to Berijam near Kodaikanal on 30th August._

Yes I already replied. I think this is a natural hybrid of Calanthe triplicata and C. sylvatica.
But interesting enough to publish.

This looks like Calanthe × dominyi Lindl. We reported recently from Hong Kong. Should be a new record for India. a natural hybrid between triplicata and masuca.

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ID Request- Munnar-PKA1 : 16 posts by 7 authors. Attachments (5)

This herb was spotted in Shola forest near Munnar.
Date/Time: 04/09/2018, 3:00PM
Plant Ht: approx. 1 to 2 ft.
Requesting ID..

Nice find, …!! My wild guess – is it some orchid ? – based on the image IMG_3108, bit of leaves seen near ground – Malaxis sp ?

This definitely looks like Orchidaceae !

This is Calanthe species. Probably Calanthe sylvatica

efi page on Calanthe sylvatica with images

Yes we already chatted, This i think is a natural hybrid of Calante triplicata and sylvatica (masuca).

intriguing phrase:  a natural hybrid. what is it. how does one know or differentiate from a lab created hybrid?

Natural hybrids are those plants that appear due to hybridization naturally, which happens when two or more compatible species co-occurrence in the same habitat and are cross pollinated by similar or same vectors. Not uncommon in orchids. This is how speciation also occurs, that is, new species are established. Also occur among animals like one of my friend worked on natural hybridization between domestic chicken and wild red jungle fowl in India.

Artificial hybrids are obviously produced by human being by crossing two different species or even genera. Usually they will register it with the authority at Royal Horticulture Society for example for orchids, Singapore Botanic Garden for Gingers etc.
Whether natural or artificial, one crucial issue is if the offsprings of the hybrids can produce fruits and seeds and if those seeds are able to produce plants identical to the hybrid parents. In most cases, they are not.
You will be surprised to know that there are only around 28000 orchid species in the world but around 150,000 – 200,000 orchid hybrids in the world.
thank you. i love the 1929 Nature report of the meeting or the debate. they were so very open and literate about their subjects.
my real question was.
how does … know its a natural hybrid of Calante triplicata and sylvatica (masuca). 
so now i will answer my own question:
1. … must know these two orchids occur in the same general vicinity
2. same pollinator visits them
3 … knows these orchids so well that he recognizes their features in a hybrid and so it behooves someone to follow these plants up and see if fruits develop and subsequent progeny starts a new species? so … you have a big job now. but before heroic efforts of traveling back to munnar etc ….. is this inference correct?

Because when I see the characters then I can make out that its not any of the existing species. So first thought is, it could be a new species. Second guess with the colour and morphological characters I can guess that it could be a hybrid. Third question is if hybrid, then who are parents? All hybrids have mixture of characters from both parents, usually.  Then I know what two species are found in that region and sort out one by one.
On the other hand, if this plant produces fruits and seeds and seeds give plants same as this one which are able to set seeds and produce plant same as this, then they can be considered as a new species.

thanks. quite a mental jog. that’s why you are you. great. thanks again

This looks like Calanthe × dominyi Lindl. We reported recently from Hong Kong. Should be a new record for India. a natural hybrid between triplicata and masuca.

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