Acineta - OTA

Orchids of Tropical America: An Introduction and Guide

Features Treats 122 of the most eyecatching and widespread orchid groups, from the Bahamas to Brazil Easy to use identification system allows rapid recognition of almost any orchid flower More than 480 stunning photos from world-class orchid growers and photographers Entertaining accounts of ecology, medicinal uses and history bring each group to life Invaluable as a field guide for orchid tourists visiting tropical America - over 100 reserves and parks featured Authors Dr. Joe Meisel is vice president of the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation, and has worked for over 20 years in Latin America conducting research, teaching, and working with local landowners and communities to protect orchid habitat. Dr. Ron Kaufmann is a professor at the University of San Diego, a long-time orchid grower, founding member of the Orchid Conservation Alliance and chair of the San Diego County Orchid Society's Conservation Committee. Dr. Franco Pupulin is the orchid curator of the Lankester Botanical Garden in Costa Rica, editor-in-chief of Lankesteriana, and frequent contributor to scientific journals on the subject of orchid taxonomy. Contact Info Cornell University Press Book website 2014 Catalog description	Acineta Description: Hefty Acineta plants favor thick, strong branches from which characteristic waxy, rounded, bell-shaped flowers hang in loose bunches. Flower: Spherical blossoms appear only partially open: thick sepals enclose smaller petals in a shape reminiscent of a sleigh bell. Typically yellow or cream-colored, flowers almost always are decorated with wine-colored spots. Side lobes of the fleshy lip sweep upward around the column, while the cupped front portion nearly closes the orb-like chamber. The lip is rigid, to which the genus owes its name (Greek for non-kinetic or immobile). The thick, waxy column often is hairy near the base. Most species are fragrant. Plant: Bulky (3-4” tall), egg-shaped pseudobulbs are deeply grooved, with 2-4 large, pleated leaves emerging from the top. Numerous flowers on a single, unbranched spike (to 20” long) dangle beneath the plant. Similar: Anguloa is terrestrial, with one or two flowers on an erect inflorescence. Gongora plants are much smaller, the flower sporting a highly complex, extended lip. Peristeria pseudobulbs are smooth (when young). Stanhopea pseudobulbs are squat, inflorescence stalk is narrow (usually pencil thin or smaller), and flowers are not cupped. Diversity and Distribution: Some 15 species of Acineta grow epiphytically in middle to high-altitude wet forests, from southern Mexico to Peru. Ecology & History: Acineta flowers are pollinated by medium to large-bodied male euglossine bees that crawl into the space beneath the column, where they scratch the lip surface to collect fragrance; they utilize the scents in complex mating rituals (see Paphinia). Upon backing out, they trigger the release of pollinia which are glued to their back. A large hump on the lip forces the bee to scrape its back against the column, like stepping over a suitcase in a stairwell. The bees collect odor substances with their front legs, then back out and hover while transferring the scent to storage areas on the hind legs, then re-enter the flower and start again. It is thought that a distinct blend of fragrance chemicals is produced by each Acineta species: the unique odor attracts only a single type of pollinator, thus ensuring the bee will exclusively visit flowers of that species.. Return to homepage	Contents Introduction Foreword by Dr. Phil Cribb Introduction to the guide Orchid Diversity, Ecology & Conservation Introduction to orchid biology and ecology Why are orchids so diverse? Fooling flies, duping lovers & other ecological tales Collectors & bandits, a history of orchids and the people that pursued them Threats and conservation: what is being done to save orchids? Rapid Identification Guide Illustrated glossary of key orchid characteristics How to identify orchid groups Easy-to-use orchid identification system Field Guide and Genus Descriptions Detailed description each genus, from stem to sepal How to distinguish from similar orchids Distribution & diversity, preferred habitat type and elevation Ecological oddities, human history & other wild tales Superb photographs of the most prominent, widely seen, and historically important species Where to See Orchids Orchid-centered reserves in over 20 Central & South America and Caribbean countries Orchid Resources Links to online sites for orchid identification, care and purchase Extensive bibliography of orchid literature Sample Genus Accounts Acineta Coryanthes Miltoniopsis Phragmipedium Vanilla Zygopetalum

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