Calanthe peyrotii (Bosser) M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit., Phytotaxa 472: 164 (2020).
Homotypic Names:
Phaius peyrotii Bosser, Adansonia, n.s., 11: 540 (1971).
Gastrorchis peyrotii (Bosser) Senghas in F.R.R.Schlechter, Orchideen Beschreib. Kult. Zücht., ed. 3, 1(15): 887 (1984).
Description:
It is a small to medium sized, warm to cool growing terrestrial orchid, which reaching 25-30 cm in size, with discoid, small, 2.5 cm long pseudobulbs carrying a few, relatively small, greyish green, linear-oblong, undulate and crispate margined, acute, 20-35 cm long leaves. Gastrorchis peyrotii blooms in the late spring and early summer on an erect, 5 to 12 flowered inflorescence. The flowers are 5 cm in diameter and open in succession. The outer whorls and the smaller petals of the inner whorl are pale pink at the back and the purple petals are at the front.
Habitat:
Calanthe peyrotii occurs endemically in Madagascar, in shady forests, at heights of 900-1100 m. blooms in the late spring and early summer.
Cultural information:
Light:
Calanthe peyrotii needs a light level of 18000-24000 lux. Dispersed light is suitable because these plants grow in shady forests.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 23-24 ° C, night 14-17 ° C, giving a daily difference of 8 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 19-21 ° C, night 10-13 ° C, giving a daily difference of 8-9 ° C.
Humidity:
Calanthe peyrotii needs the humidity of 80-85% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
A fertile mix for ground plants with good drainage is recommended. Repotting is best done in early spring, when new roots begin to actively grow.
Watering:
The substrate should be constantly moist, but not soaked. The precipitation schedule in the year is: wet / very wet.
Fertilizer:
During the growing season plants should be fertilized every week with 1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids.
Rest period:
Winter days average 66-70F (19-21C), and nights average 50-55F (10-13C), with a diurnal range of 15-17F (8-9C). The simultaneous decline in both day and night temperatures results in little change in the diurnal range. In cultivation, water should be reduced, but the medium should not be allowed to become dry. In the habitat, rainfall is lowest in early spring.
Distribution:
ENE. Madagascar
References:
Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009: Travaldo's blog copyright pictures; Expansion of Calanthe to include the species of Cephalantheropsis, Gastrorchis and Phaius (Collabieae; Orchidaceae), Vol. 472 No. 2: 23 November 2020 Phytotaxa: POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved 19 November 2022."
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.