Cephalanthera
Encyclopedia
Cephalanthera abbreviated Ceph in horticultural trade, is a genus of mostly terrestrial orchids. Members of this genus have rhizome
s rather than tuber
s. About 15 species are currently recognised, several of them common in Europe
, for example the Sword-leaved Helleborine
C. longifolia. Most others are native to Asia
, ranging from the Caucasus
, e.g. C. caucasica, to Japan
, e.g. the Bamboo-leaved Silver Orchid C. longibracteata. The Chinese
species C. gracilis was only described in 2002. The only species found in North America
is the Phantom Orchid or Snow Orchid C. austiniae. Ecologically, this species is partially myco-heterotrophic. Some of the Eurasian species hybridise.
Several of the European species have common names including the word "helleborine
", but this name does not correspond to any modern taxon, and orchids in other genera are also called helleborines. In addition to those listed here, very large numbers of other specific names will be found in the older literature, but these are almost all synonyms for the best known species such as C. longifolia or C. damasonium, the European White Helleborine.
Species include:
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s rather than tuber
Tuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
s. About 15 species are currently recognised, several of them common in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, for example the Sword-leaved Helleborine
Sword-leaved Helleborine
Cephalanthera longifolia, common name the Sword-leaved Helleborine or Narrow-leaved Helleborine, is an herbaceous perennial plant with rhizome belonging to the family Orchidaceae.-Etymology:...
C. longifolia. Most others are native to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, ranging from the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, e.g. C. caucasica, to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, e.g. the Bamboo-leaved Silver Orchid C. longibracteata. The Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
species C. gracilis was only described in 2002. The only species found in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
is the Phantom Orchid or Snow Orchid C. austiniae. Ecologically, this species is partially myco-heterotrophic. Some of the Eurasian species hybridise.
Several of the European species have common names including the word "helleborine
Helleborine
Helleborine is the common name for a number of species of orchid. It does not correspond to any currently used taxonomic category. Some of the plants called helleborines are classified in the genus Epipactis, some in genus Cephalanthera. A genus Helleborine was formerly recognised but has now...
", but this name does not correspond to any modern taxon, and orchids in other genera are also called helleborines. In addition to those listed here, very large numbers of other specific names will be found in the older literature, but these are almost all synonyms for the best known species such as C. longifolia or C. damasonium, the European White Helleborine.
Species include:
- Cephalanthera austiniae (A.Gry) Heller
- Cephalanthera bijiangensis Chen
- Cephalanthera calcarata Chen & Lang
- Cephalanthera caucasica Krzl.
- Cephalanthera cucullata Boiss. & Heldr.
- Cephalanthera damasonium (type species)
- Cephalanthera epipactoides Fischer & C. A. Meyer
- Cephalanthera falcataCephalanthera falcataThe Golden Orchid is a species of orchid....
- Cephalanthera gracilis
- Cephalanthera kotschyana Renz & Taub.
- Cephalanthera kurdica Bornm.
- Cephalanthera longibracteata
- Cephalanthera longifoliaSword-leaved HelleborineCephalanthera longifolia, common name the Sword-leaved Helleborine or Narrow-leaved Helleborine, is an herbaceous perennial plant with rhizome belonging to the family Orchidaceae.-Etymology:...
(L.) Fritsch - Cephalanthera rubraRed HelleborineRed Helleborine is an orchid found in Europe, north Africa and parts of Asia. Although reasonably common in parts of its range, this helleborine has always been one of the rarest orchids in Britain.-Distribution and habitat:...
(L.) Rich. - Cephalanthera schaberi Baum.