Papilionanthe uniflora

Papilionanthe uniflora is a species of epiphytic orchid native to India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.[6]

Papilionanthe uniflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Papilionanthe
Species:
P. uniflora
Binomial name
Papilionanthe uniflora
(Lindl.) Garay[1]
Synonyms
  • Aerides longicornu Hook.f.[2]
  • Aerides uniflora (Lindl.) Summerh.[3]
  • Luisia uniflora (Lindl.) Blume[4]
  • Mesoclastes uniflora Lindl.[5]

Description

This species of epiphytic herb grows on branches and tree trunks between 2000 and 2100 m a.s.l. It was found on Daphniphyllum himalayense and Ilex fragilis.[7] It is a drought resistant plant. Distichously arranged, terete, 6 to 17 cm long and 0.2 to 0.4 cm wide leaves are produced on slender stems with internodes of 1.5 to 3 cm in length. The leaf sheaths enclose the stem. The specific epithet uniflora reflects this species tendency to produce only one white, fragrant flower with twisted petals. This is however not a strict rule and sometimes more than one flower is produced. The spur is 1.7 cm long and is thus relatively large in relation to the sepals and petals. It may show a pink or violet suffusion at the tip. Flowering occurs from March to April or September to October.[8]

Phytochemistry

Cytotoxic effects were examined and plant extracts were demonstrated to be significantly effective cell growth inhibitors of HeLa cells.[9] Extracts of the plant contain a high flavonoid content (90 mg QE/g). The extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and tannins. Saponins were not present.[10]

Conservation

This species is included in the CITES appendix II and thus its trade is regulated.[11]

References
  1. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 23: 372 (1974)
  2. Fl. Brit. India 6: 44 (1890)
  3. Kew Bull. 10: 588 (1955 publ. 1956)
  4. Rumphia 4: 50 (1849)
  5. Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 45 (1830)
  6. "Papilionanthe uniflora (Lindl.) Garay | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". powo.science.kew.org. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  7. Bhandari, P., Shrestha, K., & Subedi, C. K. Orchids of Panchase Forest, Central Nepal: A Checklist. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESOURCES, 18(1), 143.
  8. Nanda, Y., Chowlu, K., & Rao, A. N. (1983). Four new additions of orchids to the orchid flora Manipur, India. Feddes Repert, 94(459).
  9. Joshi, P. R., Paudel, M. R., Chand, M. B., Pradhan, S., Pant, K. K., Joshi, G. P., ... & Pant, B. (2020). Cytotoxic effect of selected wild orchids on two different human cancer cell lines. Heliyon, 6(5), e03991.
  10. Chand, M. B., Paudel, M. R., & Pant, B. (2016). The antioxidant activity of selected wild orchids of Nepal. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine, 4(9), 731-736.
  11. "Papilionanthe". CITES. Retrieved 2022-02-14.

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