OrchidSafari
Orchids whose names begin with - N - Nanodes, Neobenthamia, Neofinetia and Notylia
Moderator: Marilyn Light
February 13, 2002

[Unfortunately I lost the discussion about these genera, however this is the prechat handout -KB]

Copyright Marilyn H. S. Light 2002

Within this disparate group of genera, we find two whose names begin not only with - N - but with NEO (new) which might bring us to wonder just what is new. After the prefix NEO lies a root name which in this case is Benthamia or Finetia.

The generic epithet Benthamia was created to honor George Bentham as in Benthamia latifolia A. Rich. (1828) and for Benthamia flavida (later named Habenaria cinnabarina in 1893 by Rolfe) and also for plants of the Dogwood and Borage families. Bentham (1800-1884) donated an extensive personal herbarium of some 100,000 specimens to Kew in 1854. He also participated in the Kew survey of floras of the British colonies and went on to assist in the preparation of the Flora Hongkongensis and the Flora Australiensis where he cataloged and described more than 7,000 species. When Rolfe examined specimens of a new African species in the late 1800s, he honored Bentham yet again by naming it Neobenthamia.

In the case of Finetia, the name was chosen by Schlecter and published in 1918 to honor Achille Finet, a French botanist familiar with the orchids of Japan. The orchid has carried a variety of generic names over the years while taxonomists attempted to place it within the correct taxonomic group such as Angraecum (1821), Vanda (1854), Angorchis (1891), Angraecopsis (1914) and Neofinetia in 1925. More recently, in 1972, the generic name of Holcoglossum was proposed but Neofinetia is still the accepted generic epithet.

NEOBENTHAMIA

Neobenthamia gracilis is a monotypic genus (one species in the genus) allied to Polystachya. This Tanzanian orchid grows in dry scrub at an altitude of 1200 to 6500 feet. It is subjected to cool nights for part of the year when it is also dry. The trailing, metre-long stems have long grassy foliage and carry terminal inflorescences of 20 or more white flowers from December through February. The 2 cm-wide white flowers have a rose purple blotch near the tip of the column and even the pollinia are similarly colored. The rounded lip which is lightly spotted rose and decorated as well with a bright yellow nectar guide, invites bee pollinators toward a nectar source. This orchid does well in sub-tropical and seasonally cooler tropical gardens where it grows best under partial shade. In a greenhouse, its gangly nature must be managed by staking.

NEOFINETIA

Neofinetia falcata is best known as a prized fragrant species in its native Japan but there is also the recently described Neof. richardsiana from China and North Korea. Neof. falcata is a compact plant that bears stems of several pure white flowers in summer. Flowers are moth-pollinated in nature. Long curved or sickle-shaped nectaries provide pollinators with a reward and also its specific epithet, falcata, referring to the curved nectary. The habitat is mountainous forest where the orchid grows as an epiphyte. A description of the fragrance likens the daytime scent to that of lily-of-the-valley while at night the scent becomes more complex-sweet and vanilla-like. For the Japanese, this native orchid is one of the To-yo-ran which are particularly appreciated for their fragrances. For a grower, this orchid is essentially vandaceous in growth habit: dark green leaves form fans. At the base of the most mature fan, keikis will develop with age and these are best left in place to develop a showy specimen. Grow this orchid mounted on natural branches, in baskets or on plaques. Intermediate and humid conditions should be provided year round.

NANODES

Nanodes is a generic name first raised by Lindley in 1832. Various species were ascribed to it but many of these have since been transferred to Epidendrum leaving about four species in the genus Nanodes. These sprawling plants resemble Epidendrum to which they are closely allied and are characterized by their fleshy, flat flowers. The best known is Nanodes medusae which is quite variable in color and in form, the lip always being heavily fringed. The plants do best mounted and grown under cool to intermediate conditions when they will flower with ease.

NOTYLIA

Notylia is a large genus of the Oncidiinae comprised of some 40-50 species. The genus Notylia gets its name from the quite noticeable hump atop the column. Many of what were once named Notylia have been renamed Macroclinium. Generally speaking, Macroclinium flowers are borne at the end of an inflorescence and most often have some mauve or pink coloration while Notylia flowers whose colors range from white-cream through orange-yellow and green, are borne all along pendant spikes. The plant habits are quite different with the Macroclimium being decidedly miniature. Possibly the most often seen Notylia species is Notylia barkeri, from Belize, Costa Rica and Honduras, which produces long spikes of tiny white flowers spotted with yellow. This plant has modest pseudobulbs and wide, oval leaves. It grows wonderfully in a basket under intermediate to warm conditions.

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