Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense, a new slipper orchid from Northern Thailand identified by morphological and AFLP analyses

A new endemic slipper orchid in the family Orchidaceae from Northern Thailand was described according to morphological and molecular analyses. Morphological information specifies the new slipper orchid Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense to be similar to Paphiopedilum charlesworthii (Rolfe) Pfitzer 1895, with the exception of its staminode being obovate-obcordate with yellow color, glittery and rough surface. Molecular analysis by AFLP technique indicates that Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense can be included as a member of section Paphiopedilum and is closely related to Paphiopedilum coccineum Perner, H. & Herrmann, R. (2000) (syn. Paphiopedilum barbigerum var. coccineum), from which it differs morphologically by dorsal sepal and petal characters. The morphological and molecular evidence supported that Paphiopedilum charlesworthii var. lannaense is a new slipper orchid in the genus Paphiopedilum (Cypripedioideae, Orchidaceae).

Cytological Study of Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. (Orchidaceae Juss.): An Endangered Species from Korea

Changes in chromosome number and karyotype evolution are important to plant diversification, as they are both major drivers of speciation processes. Herein, chromosome number, karyotype, and genome size of the Korean lady’s slipper orchid Cypripedium japonicum Thunb., an endangered species, were investigated in natural populations. Furthermore, all cytological data from this species are reported herein for the first time. The chromosome number of all investigated C. japonicum plants was diploid (2n = 2x = 22), with x = 11 as base chromosome number, whereby the species can now be clearly distinguished from the Japanese lady’s slipper orchid. The karyotypes of all studied individuals were of similar length, symmetrical, and rather unimodal. Flow cytometry of the C. japonicum revealed that the genome size ranged from 28.38 to 30.14 pg/1C. Data on chromosome number and karyotypes were largely consistent with previous results indicating that Korean (x = 11) populations of C. japonicum are more closely related to Chinese populations (x = 11) compared to Japanese (x = 10) populations. These comprehensive cytological results will benefit the efforts to discriminate the geographically isolated and endangered Eastern Asian (China, Japan, and Korea) lady’s slipper orchid species.

Genetic History of the Remnant Population of the Rare Orchid Cypripedium calceolus Based on Plastid and Nuclear rDNA

The lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), which inhabits shady deciduous and mixed forests and meadows, is now threatened with extinction in many European countries, and its natural populations have been dramatically declining in recent years. Knowledge of its evolutionary history, genetic variability, and processes in small populations are therefore crucial for the species’ protection. Nowadays, in south-west Poland, it is only distributed in seven small remnant and isolated populations, which we examined. One nuclear (ITS rDNA) and two plastid (accD-psa1, trnL-F) markers were analyzed and compared globally in this study. Based on the nuclear marker, the most common ancestor of C. calceolus and Cypripedium shanxiense existed about 2 million years ago (95% HPD: 5.33–0.44) in Asia. The division of the C. calceolus population into the European and Asian lineages indicated by C/T polymorphism started about 0.5 million years ago (95% HPD: 1.8–0.01). The observed variation of plastid DNA, which arose during the Pleistocene glacial–interglacial cycles, is still diffuse in Poland. Its distribution is explained by the result of fragmentation or habitat loss due to human impact on the environment.

Lady’s Slipper Orchid and Hydrangea: New Ornamental Hosts of Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) in Minnesota

The lady’s slipper orchids are a subfamily encompassing over 160 species, including the state flower of Minnesota, Cypripedium reginae. Hydrangea is a genus of about 75 species of shrubs and trees that are popular in perennial gardens. Chlorotic and necrotic foliar symptoms were observed in lady’s slipper orchid and Hydrangea arborescens on plants in St. Paul, Minnesota. From partially purified extracts, virus particles resembling those of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) were observed. TRV-specific primers amplified products from both hydrangea and lady’s slipper and were then sequenced. The sequences matched published TRV sequences with 99% identity, confirming the presence of the virus. TRV has a broad host range including ornamental, vegetable, and weed hosts. This is the first report of TRV infection in both lady’s slipper and hydrangea in Minnesota and the United States.

Growth of Slipper Orchid Paphiopedilum javanicum (Reinw. ex Lindl.) Pfitzer during Acclimatization Stage

Paphiopedilum javanicum (Reinw. ex Lindl.) Pfitzer known as slipper orchid is an endemic terrestrial orchid from Indonesia. This orchid is threatened with extinction and listed under CITES Appendix I. In-vitro propagation of P. javanicum has been done in Bali Botanic Garden (BBG) for last six years but acclimatization stage has not given satisfied result. The purpose of this study was to know the ef-fect of liquid fertilizer on vegetative growth of P. javanicum planlet during acclimatization stage. Beyonic StarTmik liquid fertilizer ap-plied by five different doses considered as treatment of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mL. They were 10 planlets for each treatment considered as replication. In this research we observe vegetative growth of P. ja-vanicum by quantitative and qualitative parameter. Quantitative data were analysis by ANOVA. Result showed, high percentage of planlet survival was observed of 98% and liquid fertilizer dose for 30 mL gave the optimal vegetative growth of P. javanicum planlet with aver-age height of 2.2 cm and leaves number of 13 pieces. There were no differences on qualitative parameter in all treatment that all leaves color was dark green and leaves tessellation appearance was obvious

From Lady’s-slipper Orchid to Christ’s Crown. Morpho-Semantic Analysis of Religiously Motivated Phytonyms in French, Italian and Serbian Language

Folk plant names as an extremely various layer of each language lexis, are the subject of study in many disciplines, including linguistics. In this paper, denominational procedures in naming plants in French, Italian and Serbian language are examined on the morphological, semantic and motivational plan, using onomasiological analysis. Due to the great importance that man has always attached to religion, the folk nominator has found in its numerous inducements for giving names to plants. For this reason, the religiously motivated phytonyms were examined, containing hagionyms Mother of God, God and Christ, or who are in the indirect semantic connection with them. Research results show that the term "Mother of God" is the most frequent source of motivation in all three languages, and that the investigated phytonyms relate mostly to medicinal plants. The metaphorical denomination was conducted on morphological or utilization characteristics of plants, and many legends in which individual plant species are linked to the examined Christian concepts. By comparing phytonyms in these three languages, it has been determined that these are often created morphologically and semantically similarly or in the same way in the French and Italian language, while Serbian is different in that respect. The causes of this state lie in the different structure of Romance (analytical) versus Slavic (synthetic) languages, but also in the specifics of West European and South Slavic culture and civilization.