Selenipedium
Encyclopedia
Selenipedium is a genus
of the Orchid
family (Orchidaceae) (Subfamily Cypripedioideae). The genus has been given its own tribe
, Selenipedieae, and subtribe, Selenipediinae. It is abbreviated Sel in trade journals.
The name of the genus is derived from the Greek selen, which means "moon
", and pedium, which means "slipper" (referring to the pouch).
The seed capsules of these Central and South American lady's slipper
orchids were formerly used as vanilla
substitutes, but selenipediums are now rarely cultivated. Partly this is because of the difficulty of doing so, but is probably also due to the relatively small size of the Selenipedium's flower. The wild flower's Amazonian
habitat is also under threat, so extinction
is a risk for all species of Selenipedium.
There are only six true selenipedium species known (http://www.orchid.or.jp/orchid/people/tanaka/enselenipedium.html):
Allied genera include Paphiopedilum
, Mexipedium, Cypripedium
and Phragmipedium
- a genus containing several species known by names including "Selenipedium", such as Selenipedium caricinum, and Selenipedium laevigatum.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the Orchid
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
family (Orchidaceae) (Subfamily Cypripedioideae). The genus has been given its own tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
, Selenipedieae, and subtribe, Selenipediinae. It is abbreviated Sel in trade journals.
The name of the genus is derived from the Greek selen, which means "moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
", and pedium, which means "slipper" (referring to the pouch).
The seed capsules of these Central and South American lady's slipper
Lady's Slipper
Lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium...
orchids were formerly used as vanilla
Vanilla
Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...
substitutes, but selenipediums are now rarely cultivated. Partly this is because of the difficulty of doing so, but is probably also due to the relatively small size of the Selenipedium's flower. The wild flower's Amazonian
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
habitat is also under threat, so extinction
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
is a risk for all species of Selenipedium.
There are only six true selenipedium species known (http://www.orchid.or.jp/orchid/people/tanaka/enselenipedium.html):
- Selenipedium aequinoctiale (The Equatorial occurring Selenipidum) is a terrestrialTerrestrial plantA terrestrial plant is one that grows on land. Other types of plants are aquatic , epiphytic , lithophytes and aerial ....
orchid found in EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. - Selenipedium chica
- Selenipedium isabelianum (Found in Brazil)
- Selenipedium palmifolium A dry land flower, its habitat is endangered by deforestationDeforestationDeforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
of the Amazon basin for agricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. - Selenipedium steyermarkii (Brazil, VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) - Selenipedium vanillocarpum is a BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian species adapted to a mountain habitat, a colony was rediscovered in 2001
Allied genera include Paphiopedilum
Paphiopedilum
The paphiopedilums – often abbreviated Paph and colloquially known as paphs in horticulture – are flowering plants in the orchid family . It contains about 80 accepted species nowadays, some of which are natural hybrids...
, Mexipedium, Cypripedium
Cypripedium
Cypripedium is a genus of 47 species of lady's-slipper orchids native to temperate and colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere.Some grow in the tundra in Alaska and Siberia, which is an unusually cold habitat for orchids. They can withstand extreme cold, growing under the snow and blooming when...
and Phragmipedium
Phragmipedium
Phragmipedium is a genus of the Orchid family and the only genus comprised in the tribe Phragmipedieae and subtribe Phragmipediinae. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek phragma, which means "division", and pedium, which means "slipper" . It is abbreviated 'Phrag' in trade journals...
- a genus containing several species known by names including "Selenipedium", such as Selenipedium caricinum, and Selenipedium laevigatum.
External links
- Various Selenipedium samples, and the problems of cultivation
- The New York Botanical Garden has removed Selenipedium steyermarkii localities from its on-line record to protect the species from over-collection - data available to researchers on request.
- Slipper Orchid Discussion Forum