Galeandra
Galeandra (lat. Galeandra) is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the Orchid family (lat. Orchidaceae).
Plants of this genus in nature can be epiphytes or lithophytes, and in culture they can even be grown as terrestrial plants in a well-drained nutrient mixture or in baskets. Most species display very showy flowers, forming few-flowered racemes that arise from the tips of the pseudobulbs.
What’s in your name
The Latin name of the genus “Galeandra” contains two words: the Latin word “galea” meaning “helmet” and the Greek word “andros” meaning “male”. The reason for this name was the shape of the anther cap, similar to the helmet of an ancient warrior.
The genus “Galeandra” was proposed in 1830 by the English botanist John Lindley (02/05/1799 – 11/01/1865).
The type species of the genus is the plant “Galeandra baueri”.
The Latin name of the genus has synonyms, including the following one – “Corydandra”.
In the floriculture literature, the three-letter abbreviation “Gal” is used for the genus name.
Description
Most species of the genus Galeandra are epiphytic plants that live on trees that grow at low altitudes (up to 500 meters above sea level). Species growing at high altitudes are either lithophytes or terrestrial creatures.
Plants of the genus Galeandra belong to the sympodial growth type, growing from small to medium in size. A characteristic feature of the genus are elongated, cylindrical or spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, from the nodes of which thin and narrow leaves are born.
From the top of the pseudobulb, a peduncle appears into the world, bearing a racemose inflorescence formed by a different number of flowers, from several pieces to a multi-flowered creature. Most species display very showy flowers of all colors with tubular lips and a well-defined spur.
Varieties
The number of species in the genus, as in most plants of the Orchidaceae family, is a variable value, due to the large number and diversity of representatives of the family, which have not yet been sufficiently studied by botanists. With a more meticulous study of botany, they either divide one genus into several, or transfer some species from one genus to another. Today, about 40 plant species are in the described genus.
The most famous types are:
*Galeandra baueri
* Galeandra batemanii
*Galeandra devoniana
*Galeandra stangeana
* Galeandra lacustris
* Galeandra dives
*Galeandra minax
Cultural use
The beautiful inflorescences of plants of the genus, distinguished by flowers with a spectacular tubular lip and a variety of colors of flower petals, have made many species of the genus Galeandra popular greenhouse and indoor plants.
Due to the fact that in the wild, different species live in different climatic conditions, you can always choose a species for any temperature zone – from warm to cold.
Different types of planting are suitable for growing orchids of the genus Galeandra. These can be special baskets for epiphytic plants; ceramic or plastic pots filled with a well-drained mixture, since for most types of orchids stagnation of moisture is detrimental; or landing on a block.
Beautifully flowering species of the genus are used to create hybrids, of which there are already a great many.
Protecting orchids from poaching and the threat of extinction
People tend to use the beauty of the plant world for their own interests, which are not always consistent with the consequences of the barbaric destruction of rare plant species that are gradually disappearing from the face of the planet.
People who care about the future of the Earth’s plant life are trying to reach out to people by setting limits and rules that must guide those involved in the wild plant trade.
