Some Thrixspermum species
The genus Thrixspermum was named by João Loureiro, in 1790, from plants collected in southern Vietnam. As we now understand the genus, there are about 165 species in its ranks, and these plants can be placed into three sections, namely section Thrixspermum, characterised by the flowers appearing along the margins of the flattened rachis, in two alternating rows; section Katocolla has plants which are limp, pendulous, and only have roots at the base; and section
Dendrocolla where the inflorescence is usually upright, and the blooms face in different directions. The growth habit of the plants is monopodial, meaning the plant grows in one direction, usually upwards. The species mentioned here are, mostly, found at low elevations and grow quite readily in lowland situations. In this fascinating genus, blooms are very short-lived, lasting from the early morning hours up to one day only.
Thrixspermum acuminatissimum (section Thrixspermum) is a widelydistributed species which has been recorded from Thailand, Kampuchea, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Borneo. In the Philippines, it has been found, at low elevations, in Laguna and Quezon on Luzon, and Leyte and Samar in the Visayas. Of the species mentioned here, this is a smaller grower, but the blooms are quite large at about 6 cm in diameter.
Thrixspermum amesianum (section Dendrocolla) is endemic to the Philippines and is found in no other country. It has been recorded from the provinces of Albay, Laguna, Quezon, and Sorsogon on Luzon; Palawan; Leyte and Samar in the Visayas; Agusan on Mindanao; Basilan in the Sulu archipelago. It grows at low elevations. The fragrant flowers are small, and the labellum is covered with short hair-like growths, giving a velvet-like appearance to the surface. The coloration of the labellum can vary from cream to yellow, also the spotting on it varies between clones.
Thrixspermum ligulatum (section Thrixspermum) is another species which is only known from the Philippines, where it has been found in the provinces of Laguna, La Union, and Rizal on Luzon; and Leyte in the Visayas. It is another low elevation species. The leaves of this species are thick and leathery, and the flowers are most attractive, with a slipper-like appearance to the thick labellum.
Thrixspermum merguense (section Dendrocolla) is a widely-spread species which has been found in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan. In the Philippines, it has been recorded from Laguna and Rizal on Luzon; Leyte and Samar in the Visayas; and Agusan on Mindanao. The side lobes of the label- lum are covered in hair-like growths which are topped with what appears to be a small, transparent ball.
Thrixspermum pensile (section Katocolla) is the only representative of this section found in the Philippines, where it has been recorded from Aurora on Luzon; the island of Mindoro; Leyte and Negros in the Visayas; and the island of Palawan. The plant has also been found in Thailand, Indonesia, and Borneo. It usually grows on the underside of branches and can reach lengths of more than one metre. The flowers are on a short inflorescence, almost hidden amongst the leaves. In the wild, it grows often around lakes at medium range elevations, therefore it’s not suitable for the lowlands.
Thrixspermum quinquelobum (section Dendrocolla) is endemic to the Philippines and has been found in Laguna Quezon on Luzon, and Samar in the Visayas, where it grows at elevations of about 500 metres. The labellum of this species is a most amazingly, intricate segment, with five lobes. The side lobes are long and sharply pointed, and towards the front are two shorter tooth-like lobes, and the midlobe is edged with numerous long hair-like growths. A most wonderful structure.