- Source: Chiloschista
Chiloschista, commonly known as starfish orchids and abbreviated Chsch., is a genus of usually leafless, epiphytic or lithophytic orchids found in India, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Description
Orchids in the genus Chiloschista are epiphytic or lithophytic, usually leafless monopodial herbs with flat, green, photosynthetic roots radiating from a short, central rhizome. The flowers are arranged on long, thin flowering stems, open sporadically in groups and only last for a few hours to one or two days. They are small and resupinate, with the sepals and petals more or less similar in size and shape to each other but different from the labellum which has three lobes. The side lobes of the labellum are erect and larger than the middle lobe which is slipper-shaped.
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Chiloschista was first described in 1832 by John Lindley in Edwards's Botanical Register. The name Chiloschista is derived from the Ancient Greek words cheilos meaning "lip" or "rim": 486 and schistos meaning "split" or "divided".: 684
About 30 species of Chiloschista are accepted by Plants of the World Online as at December 2024:
Chiloschista bhutanensis Ghalley & Dalström
Chiloschista confusa M.J.Matthew, J.Matthew, P.M.Salim & Szlach.
Chiloschista densiflora Gyeltshen, C.Gyeltshen & Dalström
Chiloschista extinctoriformis Seidenf.
Chiloschista exuperei (Guillaumin) Garay
Chiloschista fasciata (F.Muell.) Seidenf. & Ormerod
Chiloschista gelephuensis C.Gyeltshen & Dalström
Chiloschista glabrisepala Vuong, Aver. & V.S.Dang
Chiloschista glandulosa Blatt. & McCann
Chiloschista guangdongensis Z.H.Tsi
Chiloschista himalaica Tobgay, C.Gyeltshen & Dalström
Chiloschista javanica Schltr.
Chiloschista lindstroemii Dalström & Kolan
Chiloschista loheri Schltr.
Chiloschista lunifera (Rchb.f.) J.J.Sm.
Chiloschista parishii Seidenf.
Chiloschista phyllorhiza (F.Muell.) Schltr. – white starfish orchid, (Australia)
Chiloschista pulchella Aver. & K.S.Nguyen
Chiloschista quangdangii Vuong & Aver.
Chiloschista ramifera Seidenf.
Chiloschista rodriguezii Cavestro & Ormerod
Chiloschista segawae (Masam.) Masam. & Fukuy.
Chiloschista shanica Wojtas, C.Bandara & Kumar
Chiloschista sweelimii Holttum
Chiloschista taeniophyllum (J.J.Sm.) Schltr.
Chiloschista treubii (J.J.Sm.) Schltr.
Chiloschista trudelii Seidenf.
Chiloschista usneoides (D.Don) Lindl.
Chiloschista viridiflava Seidenf.
Chiloschista yunnanensis Schltr.