Tolumnia variegata, commonly known as the harlequin dancing-lady orchid or variegated oncidium in English and as angelito or angelitos in Spanish, is a species of orchid native to the Caribbean.[1]

Tolumnia variegata
Illustration of Tolumnia variegata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Tolumnia
Species:
T. variegata
Binomial name
Tolumnia variegata
Synonyms[2]
  • Epidendrum variegatum Sw.
  • Epidendrum carinatum Vahl
  • Cymbidium variegatum (Sw.) Sw.
  • Oncidium variegatum (Sw.) Sw.
  • Oncidium velutinum Lindl. & Paxton
  • Oncidium leiboldii Rchb.f.
  • Oncidium variegatum var. velutinum (Lindl. & Paxton) Griseb.
  • Epidendrum haseltonianum A.D.Hawkes
  • Oncidium leiboldii var. album Moir & A.D.Hawkes
  • Oncidium leiboldii var. majus Moir & A.D.Hawkes
  • Oncidium variegatum var. purpureum Moir & A.D.Hawkes
  • Oncidium variegatum var. roseum Moir & A.D.Hawkes
  • Oncidium velutinum var. purpureum Moir
  • Oncidium caymanense Moir
  • Oncidium furcyense Moir
  • Oncidium cubense Moir
  • Oncidium varvelum Moir
  • Oncidium variegatum f. album (Moir & A.D.Hawkes) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum f. furcyense (Moir) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum f. majus (Moir & A.D.Hawkes) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum f. purpureum (Moir) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum f. roseum (Moir & A.D.Hawkes) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum f. varvelum (Moir) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum subsp. leiboldii (Rchb.f.) Withner
  • Oncidium variegatum subsp. velutinum (Lindl. & Paxton) Withner
  • Tolumnia caymanensis (Moir) Braem
  • Tolumnia leiboldii (Rchb.f.) Braem
  • Tolumnia velutina (Lindl. & Paxton) Braem
  • Tolumnia borinquinensis Sauleda & Ragan

Distribution and habitat

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T. variegata is native to the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.[1] It inhabits both moist and dry forests at all but the highest elevations, and is the most widespread member of the genus Tolumnia.[3]

Description

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T. variegata is a stoloniferous plant with flattened pseudobulbs. Plants are variable in size. The leaves are long with a pointed tip, measuring approximately 12 cm (4.7 in) long and 1.5 cm (0.59 in) wide. The inflorescence grows to 40 cm (16 in) long, bearing up to 30 flowers.[4] The flowers are highly variable in size, shape, and colouration, but are usually white (sometimes pink) with a yellow column and brown to purple spots on the labellum.[5]

Ecology

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T. variegata is an epiphyte that grows on the branches of trees and shrubs, including calabash, guava, citrus, and coffee plants. Flowering occurs in spring and fall.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Roberts, A. (2014). "Tolumnia variegata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T62100347A62100403. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T62100347A62100403.en. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Tolumnia variegata (Sw.) Braem". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ackerman, James D. (1992). The Orchids of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (Las Orquídeas de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes). University of Puerto Rico. p. 86. ISBN 0847723429.
  4. ^ Llamacho, Juan A.; Larramendi, Julio A. (2005). The Orchids of Cuba (Las Orquídeas de Cuba). Greta Editores. p. 68. ISBN 9788493361525.
  5. ^ Calvo, Ricardo N. (1993). "Evolutionary Demography of Orchids: Intensity and Frequency of Pollination and the Cost of Fruiting". Ecology. 74 (4). Ecological Society of America: 1033–1042. Bibcode:1993Ecol...74.1033C. doi:10.2307/1940473. JSTOR 1940473.