Mycaranthes Bl.

Abstract

Mycaranthes is a genus with some 34 species that were included as Eria for many years. Mycaranthes species are distributed from northeast Himalaya to Southeast Asia and northern Australia with a concentration in Southeast Asia. Stems are usually long, with leaves along their entire length. Inflorescence is generally terminal, unbranched, covered with woolly hair throughout, and bearing many flowers that open simultaneously. Flowers are small, open widely. Lip is three-lobed, with a mealy ridge or callus that is the distinguishing feature of the genus. Thy are not considered to be decorative orchids, and they are seldom encountered in collections. Mycaranthes pannea is cultivated by the Lohit tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India, who grow them on forest trees near their homes. Tribals apply a paste made with fresh leaves of the orchid on fractures to relieve pain and swelling (Namsa et al. 2009) (Fig. My 71.1).