Ambrella is a monotypic genus in the orchid family.[1] The single species, Ambrella longituba is endemic to Madagascar.[2] The type specimen was collected and described by Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bâthie in 1934.[3]
| Ambrella longituba | |
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| type specimen of Ambrella longituba | |
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| Ambrella longituba in cultivation | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Vandeae |
| Subtribe: | Angraecinae |
| Genus: | Ambrella H.Perrier |
| Species: | A. longituba
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| Binomial name | |
| Ambrella longituba H.Perrier
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| Approximate distribution of Ambrella longituba in North Madagascar | |
Description
editThe plants are relatively small, epiphytic orchids. The flowers are big in relation to the size of the plants. The sepals are free and resemble the petals. The unusual, 45 mm long, spurred labellum is tubulate and encloses the column. The inner surface of the tube is covered with trichomes.[1]
Ecology
editThis species is native to the semi-dry forests of the Northern tip of Madagascar at altitudes of 800 m above sea level. It has been found growing on branches of Viguieranthus alternans (Benth.) Villiers (syn. Calliandra alternans Benth.[4]),[5][6] which is the preferred phorophyte of Ambrella longituba.[7] Its pollinators are corrently unknown.[6] However, H. Perrier De La Bathie speculates the narrow tube of the labellum only allows a few very special insects to fertilise the flowers, and he states this explains the rarity of the species.[1] Flowering occurs in November.[8]
Conservation
editThis species is rare.[1] There are five known records of occurrence dating from 1932 to 1995.[9] One record was collected from within the Parc national de la Montagne d'Ambre and another was collected in close proximity of the Réserve spéciale de la Forêt d'Ambre. It is protected under the CITES appendix II.[10]
Etymology
editThe specific epithet longituba is composed of longi- meaning long[11] and -tuba meaning trumpet.[12] It refers to the long tube-shaped labellum of the flowers.
Cultivation
editIt is uncommon in cultivation.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d De La Bathie, H. P. (1934). "Ambrella, genre nouveau d'Orchidées (Angraecoïdées) de Madagascar." Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France, 81(4), 655-657.
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Stewart, Joyce; Hermans, Johan; and Campbell, Bob Ian Martin. "Angraecoid orchids: species from the African region". Timber Press, Inc. (2006). p. 156-157.
- ^ "Viguieranthus alternans (Benth.) Villiers". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Lecoufle, M., & Bosser, J. (2011). "Les Orchidées de Madagascar: Orchids of Madagascar." BIOTOPE.
- ^ a b c Pridgeon, A. M., Cribb, P. J., Chase, M. W., & Rasmussen, F. N. (Eds.). (2014). "Genera Orchidacearum Volume 6: Epidendroideae (Part 3)." OUP Oxford.
- ^ Rasmussen, H. N., & Rasmussen, F. N. (2018). "The epiphytic habitat on a living host: reflections on the orchid–tree relationship." Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 186(4), 456-472.
- ^ Leth, C. (n.d.). Ambrella longituba H.Perrier. African Orchids. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from http://www.africanorchids.dk/359-ambrella/375-ambrella-longituba
- ^ Ambrella longituba H.Perrier. (n.d.). GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2784212
- ^ Ambrella longituba H. Perrier - Encyclopedia of Life. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://eol.org/pages/1113380
- ^ longi-. (n.d.) Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary. (2010). Retrieved October 21, 2022 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/longi-
- ^ tuba. (n.d.) American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved October 21, 2022 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/tuba
External links
edit- Data related to Ambrella at Wikispecies
