''Cyrtorchis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s from the orchid family

Orchidaceae 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 flowering ...

native to Africa.

Description

The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2022). Flora of Mozambique: Genus page: Cyrtorchis. https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=444, retrieved 25 December 2022 which do not have pseudobulbs.Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2022). Flora of Malawi: Genus page: Cyrtorchis. https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=444, retrieved 25 December 2022 The white, fragrant, star-shaped flowers are distinctly spurred.

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count of ''Cyrtorchis arcuata'' is 2n = 46.''Cyrtorchis arcuata''. (n.d.). Hortus Orchis. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://www.hortusorchis.org/en/botanical-orchids/107-c/1256-cyrtorchis-arcuata.html

Physiology

''Cyrtorchis'' is known to utilize the

crassulacean acid metabolism Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions that allows a plant to photosynthesize during the day, but only exchange gases at night. ...

, which entails photosynthesis during the daytime, and gaseous exchange through open stomata during the night. This enables the plant to save water.

Etymology

The generic name ''Cyrtorchis'' is composed of the Greek words "kirtos" meaning curved and "orchis" meaning testicles, which refers to orchids.

Taxonomy

The genus has been proven to be monophyletic.Schuiteman, A. (2018)
"Orchid Research Newsletter No. 71."
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Sections

The genus has been divided into the sections ''Cyrtorchis'' section ''Homocolleticon'' Summerh. and ''Cyrtorchis'' section ''Cyrtorchis'' based on differences in the shape of the

viscidium 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 ...

. Originally the section ''Cyrtorchis'' was published as section ''Heterocolleticon'' Summerh., but it is now known as ''Cyrtorchis'' section ''Cyrtorchis''.Azandi, L., Droissart, V., Sonké, B., Simo-Droissart, M., & Stévart, T. (2018)
"The genus ''Cyrtorchis'' in Central Africa with a focus on its two sections."
Orchids, 87(1), 48-55. The section ''Homocolleticon'' is characterized by an uniformly textured viscidium,Leth, C. (n.d.). ''Cyrtorchis'' section ''Homocolleticon''. African Orchids. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/higher-epidendroideae/tribe-vandeae/subtribe-aerangidinae-from-a-m/cyrtorchis in contrast to the viscidium of section ''Cyrtorchis'', which consists of two distinct zones.Leth, C. (n.d.). ''Cyrtorchis'' section ''Cyrtorchis''. African Orchids. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/higher-epidendroideae/tribe-vandeae/subtribe-aerangidinae-from-a-m/cyrtorchis The section ''Homocolleticon'' Summerh. was elevated to a genus by Szlach. & Olszewski in 2001, but ''Homocolleticon'' (Summerh.) Szlach. & Olszewski is now a synonym of ''Cyrtorchis'' Schltr.

Species

As of December 2022, there are 19 currently accepted species: # '' Cyrtorchis arcuata'' (Lindl.) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis aschersonii'' (Kraenzl.) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis brownii'' (Rolfe) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis chailluana'' (Hook.f.) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis crassifolia'' Schltr. in R.E.Fries # ''

Cyrtorchis erythraeae ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' (Rolfe) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis glaucifolia'' Summerh. # '' Cyrtorchis guillaumetii'' (Pérez-Vera) R.Rice # ''

Cyrtorchis hamata ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' (Rolfe) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis henriquesiana'' (Ridl.) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis injoloensis'' (De Wild.) Schltr. # ''

Cyrtorchis letouzeyi ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' Szlach. & Olszewski # ''

Cyrtorchis monteiroae ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' (Rchb.f.) Schltr. # ''

Cyrtorchis neglecta ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' Summerh. # ''

Cyrtorchis okuensis ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' Droissart, Azandi & M.Simo # ''

Cyrtorchis praetermissa ''Cyrtorchis'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa. Description The species of the genus ''Cyrtorchis'' are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs,Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgra ...

'' Summerh. # '' Cyrtorchis ringens'' (Rchb.f.) Summerh # '' Cyrtorchis seretii'' (De Wild.) Schltr. # '' Cyrtorchis submontana'' Stévart, Droissart & Azandi

Ecology

Habitat

It grows in dense forests and rainforests, as well as in plantations. It is found growing on tree trunks and branches, which receive high levels of sunlight.''Cyrtorchis aschersonii'' (Kraenzl.) Schltr. (2022, July 5). African Plant Database. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/44969 In addition to epiphytic growth, it can also grow lithophytically attached to rocks.

Pollination

Several

hawk moth The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, but ...

species of the genus ''

Hippotion ''Hippotion'' is a genus of sphinx moths. The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819. Species Ecology Pollination Several species of the genus ''Hippotion'' have been identified as likely pollinators of the orchid species ''Cyrtorchis okue ...

'' have been identified as likely pollinators of ''Cyrtorchis okuensis''.Azandi, L. N., Stévart, T., Sonké, B., Simo-Droissart, M., d'Haijère, T., & Droissart, V. (2021)
"Taxonomic description and pollination ecology of Cyrtorchis okuensis (Orchidaceae, Angraecinae), a new species endemic to the Cameroon Volcanic Line."
Plant Ecology and Evolution, 154(3), 483-496. The white flowers shift to an orange pollination after pollination or senescence. Such post-pollination behaviour is not uncommon, and it may be explained by a reduced attractivity of flowers to pollinators,Ruxton, G. D., & Schaefer, H. M. (2016). Floral colour change as a potential signal to pollinators. Current opinion in plant biology, 32, 96-100.Dalström, S., Gyeltshen, N., & Höijer, T. (2010). ''Phalaenopsis taenialis'': a case of split personality. Orchids, 79(8), 468-471. if the flowers are no longer viable.

Conservation

Two species, namely ''

'' Szlach. & Olszewski and '' Cyrtorchis henriquesiana'' (Ridl.) Schltr., have been categorized as species of least concern (LC) under the

IUCN Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biol ...

criteria.Simo-Droissart, M., Stévart, T. & Droissart, V. 2021. Cyrtorchis letouzeyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T87585357A87740052. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T87585357A87740052.en. Accessed on 26 December 2022.Simo-Droissart, M., Stévart, T. & Droissart, V. 2021. Cyrtorchis henriquesiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T87585350A87740047. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T87585350A87740047.en. Accessed on 26 December 2022. '' Cyrtorchis arcuata'' subsp. ''arcuata'' has been categorized as a Least Concern species by the

Red List of South African Plants The Red List of South African Plants is a system used to classify endemic species of plants in South Africa that are at risk of extinction. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) designates the conservation status of endemic ...

.Foden, W. & Potter, L. 2005. ''Cyrtorchis arcuata'' (Lindl.) Schltr. subsp. ''arcuata''. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2022/12/26 Another species, '' Cyrtorchis glaucifolia'' Summerh., has been cagegorized as an endangered (EN) species under the IUCN Red List criteria,Rokni, S., Matimele, H.A., Alves, M.T., Chelene, I., Darbyshire, I., Datizua, C., De Sousa, C., Langa, C., Massingue, A.O., Mucaleque, P.A., Odorico, D., Osborne, J., Rulkens, A.J.H., Timberlake, J. & Viegas, A. 2018. Cyrtorchis glaucifolia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T120961124A120980358. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T120961124A120980358.en. Accessed on 26 December 2022. and ''Cyrtorchis okuensis'' Droissart, Azandi & M.Simo is categorized as Near Threatened (NT).

Horticulture

''Cyrtorchis'' is easy to cultivate in well drained substrate.Leth, C. (n.d.). Genus ''Cyrtorchis''. African Orchids. Retrieved December 24, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/higher-epidendroideae/tribe-vandeae/subtribe-aerangidinae-from-a-m/cyrtorchis ''Cyrtorchis arcuata'' is most commonly found in private collections.De Vidi, G. (2010, December 10). Il genere Cyrtorchis. Orchids.it. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://www.orchids.it/2010/12/10/il-genere-cyrtorchis/

References

External links

* * Vandeae genera Angraecinae Orchids of Africa Flora of Africa Epiphytic orchids Lithophytic orchids {{Vandeae-stub