Ascocentrum

Ascocentrum
Rust-red Ascocentrum (Ascocentrum miniatum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Vandeae
Subtribe:	Aeridinae
Alliance:	Vanda
Genus:	Ascocentrum Schltr. ex J. J. Sm. (1917)
Type species
Ascocentrum miniatum (Lindl.) Schltr.
Species
Ascocentrum ampullaceum Ascocentrum aurantiacum Ascocentrum aureum Ascocentrum christensonianum Ascocentrum curvifolium Ascocentrum garayi Ascocentrum himalaicum Ascocentrum insularum Ascocentrum miniatum Ascocentrum pumilum Ascocentrum rubescens Ascocentrum rubrum Ascocentrum semiteretifolium
Synonyms
Ascolabium S. S. Ying

Ascocentrum, abbreviated as Asctm in horticultural trade, is a small genus belonging to the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The type species is Ascocentrum miniatum (Lindl.) Schltr. ex J. J. Sm. (originally as Saccolabium miniatum Lindl.).

They occur mainly in warmer to intermediate, humid climates of the foothills of the Himalayas, in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Java and Borneo.

These monopodial epiphytic orchids grow on deciduous trees. They have a short, simple to bifurcate stem (max. 15–18 cm) with an upright, compact, conical to racemose inflorescence, consisting of smaller brightly colored flowers. These flowers have a prominent spur and a strap-like lip. Their bright colors vary between yellow, orange, red, orchid or cerise.

The chromosome number is 2n = 38.

They are popular among orchid lovers because they resemble the compact Vanda-like species. Nevertheless, their cultivation is rather difficult.

Intergeneric hybrids

They are generally crossed with Vanda species into numerous intergeneric hybrids, giving the following nothogeneric names (i.e. the name at generic rank for a hybrid between representatives of two or more genera)

• Aeridocentrum: Aerctm (Aerides × Ascocentrum)
• Aerasconetia: Aescta (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Neofinetia)
• Alphonsoara: Alph (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• Angraecentrum: Angctm (Angraecum × Ascocentrum)
• Ascandopsis: Ascdps (Ascocentrum × Vandopsis)
• Ascocenda: Ascda (Ascocentrum × Vanda)
• Ascocleinetia: Ascln (Ascocentrum × Cleisocentron × Neofinetia)
• Ascofinetia: Ascf (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia)
• Ascogastisia: Agsta (Ascocentrum × Gastrochilus × Luisia)
• Ascoglottis: Asgts (Ascocentrum × Trichoglottis)
• Asconopsis: Ascps (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis)
• Ascorachnis: Ascns (Arachnis × Ascocentrum)
• Ascovandoritis: Asvts (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Vanda)
• Beardara: Bdra (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis)
• Bokchoonara: Bkch (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• Bovornara: Bov (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Chilocentrum: Chctm (Ascocentrum × Chiloschista)
• Christieara: Chtra (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
• Darwinara: Dar (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Debruyneara: Dbra (Ascocentrum × Luisia × Vanda)
• Devereuxara: Dvra (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• Dominyara: Dmya (Ascocentrum × Luisia × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis)
• Doricentrum: Dctm (Ascocentrum × Doritis)
• Eastonara: Eas (Ascocentrum × Gastrochilus × Vanda)
• Fujioara: Fjo (Ascocentrum × Trichoglottis × Vanda)
• Gottererara: Gott (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vandopsis)
• Himoriara: Hmra (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Hugofreedara: Hgfda (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Kingiella)
• Isaoara: Isr (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• Kagawara: Kgw (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda)
• Knappara: Knp (Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• Knudsonara: Knud (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Komkrisara: Kom (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis)
• Lauara: Lauara (Ascoglossum × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis)
• Luicentrum: Lctm (Ascocentrum × Luisia)
• Luascotia: Lscta (Ascocentrum × Luisia × Neofinetia)
• Lowsonara: Lwnra (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis)
• Lewisara: Lwsra (Aerides × Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
• Micholitzara: Mchza (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Vanda)
• Mokara: Mkra (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda)
• Moonara: Mnra (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis)
• Nakamotoara: Nak (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Vanda)
• Naugleara: Naug (Ascocentrum × Ascoglossum × Renanthera)
• Okaara: Okr (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Onoara: Onra (Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• Pageara: Pga (Ascocentrum × Luisia × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Pelacentrum: Plctm (Ascocentrum × Pelatantheria)
• Paulara: Plra (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
• Pomacentrum: Pmctm (Ascocentrum × Pomatocalpa)
• Renancentrum: Rnctm (Ascocentrum × Renanthera)
• Rhynchocentrum: Rhctm (Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis)
• Richardmizutaara: Rcmza (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vandopsis)
• Robinara: Rbnra (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda)
• Ronnyara: Rnya (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Rosakirschara: Rskra (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Renanthera)
• Rumrillara: Rlla (Ascocentrum × Neofinetia × Rhynchostylis)
• Sarcocentrum: Srctm (Ascocentrum × Sarcochilus)
• Shigeuraara: Shgra (Ascocentrum × Ascoglossum × Renanthera × Vanda)
• Silpaprasertara: Silpa (Aerides × Ascocentrum × Sarcanthus)
• Stamariaara: Stmra (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
• Sutingara: Sut (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• Vandewegheara: Vwga (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• Vascostylis: Vasco (Ascocentrum × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• Wilkinsara: Wknsra (Ascocentrum × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• Yusofara: Ysfra (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Renanthera × Vanda)

References

• Roberts*, J.A., Anuku, S., Burdon, J., Mathew, P., McGough*, H.N. & Newman, A.D. (comps) (2001 [2002]). CITES orchid checklist. Volume 3: for the genera Aerangis, Anagraecum, Ascocentrum, Bletilla, Brassavola, Calanthe, Catasetum, Miltonia, Miltonioides, Miltoniopsis, Renanthera, Renantherella, Rhynchostylis, Rossioglossum, Vanda and Vandopsis. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 233 pp.