Calanthe Robert Brown
in Edward's Botanical Register 7: sub t. 573 (1821)

Introduction: Some hundred and fifty species are known from South Africa, Madagascar to China, Japan, tropical Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia as far as Tahiti. One of the most wide-spread species is C. triplicata (Willem) Ames which occurs from the Himalayas through to New Guinea.

Derivation of genus name: The genus was created by Robert Brown in 1821 from the Greek calos (beautiful) and anthos (a flower).

Type species: Limodorum veratrifolium Willd.

Characteristics of genus: Calanthes are terrestrials with fleshy pseudobulbs and large pleated leaves which may or may not be deciduous. The inflorescence of the many species is arching or erect - often several feet in length - and the few to many flowers occur in every almost imaginable colour.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus:

Number of species in New Guinea:

Species shown here: Calanthe longifolia Schlechter
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft

Key to Illustration: A: plant habit; B-C: flower, front and side view (10 mm scale); D: column, spur and labellum with tepals removed; E: labellum, top view (10 mm scale); F-H: dorsal sepal, lateral sepal and petal (10 mm scale); I-J: side and ventral view of column

Calanthe rhodochila Schlechter
drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft

Key to Illustration: A: habit and inflorescence; B: flower, front view; C: flower, side view; D: dorsal sepal; E: petal; F: lateral sepal; G: labellum and column from above; H: labellum and column from side

Calanthe cremeo-viridis J.J. Wood
drawn by N.H.S. HJowcroft (click link to view full size drawing)

Key to Illustration: A: plant habit (reduced); B: inflorescence (reduced); C: flower, front view (5 mm scale); D: lateral view of flower (10 mm scale); E: labellum and spur (10 mm scale); F: dorsal sepal (10 mm scale); G: petal (10 mm scale); H: lateral sepal (10 mm scale); I: cut away view of column (10 mm scale); J: apex of column and basal portion of labellum (dorsal view - 5 mm scale); K: anther (front - 1 mm scale); L: pollen (1 mm scale)

Calanthe triplicata
drawn by N.H.S. HJowcroft (click link to view full size drawing)

Habitat: Calanthes are shade loving plants found mostly growing in deep leaf litter on the forest floor in rich humus soil.

Photos: Calanthe species

Conservation status: not endangered