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Conservation Status
IUCN: not evaluated
USFWS: None
Family: ORCHIDACEAE Genus: Renanthera Species: coccinea Species Author: Lour.
All Renanthera species are epiphytic or rock dwelling plants therefore often have aerial roots that attach the plant to the substrate they are going on. They have monopodial growth, meaning that they have a single stem that continues to elongate at the tip or apex. Other orchid genera produce a flowering stalk at the apex of the stem therefore subsequent growth occurs through the development of lateral buds. The leaves of Renanthera coccinea are strap-shaped and leathery with a large notch at the tip of the leaf. The leaves are 7.5 cm long and 3 cm wide and arranged alternately along the stem with 180o between one leaf and the next. The flowers of Renanthera coccinea are produced on a large, branching inflorescence (flower cluster) with the oldest flowers at the base and the youngest at the tip. The flowers grow to approximately 3.5 cm in diameter and 6.6 cm in length and are bright red producing a very attractive display of color when in flower. Renanthera coccinea flowers contain three petals and three sepals. The two lateral sepals are 4 cm long and 1.2 cm wide and are typically solid red in color. The third sepal resembles the petals each of which are 2.3 -3.1 cm long and 0.4-2 cm wide and are red blending to orange with red specks. The third petal is modified to form the ‘lip’ in the center of the flower that surrounds the pollen and ovule producing structures.
(Kamemoto, H. and Shindo, K. 1962. Genome relationships in interspecific and intergeneric hybrids of Renanthera. American Journal of Botany 49(7): 737-748.)
Renanthera coccinea is native to Vietnam where it grows as an epiphyte in primary forests. It grows on open rocks and bluffs at elevations between 550 and 1200 m. The genus Renanthera contains 15 species with a distribution from Southern China, Indo-China, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
(Kamemoto, H. and Shindo, K. 1962. Genome relationships in interspecific and intergeneric hybrids of Renanthera. American Journal of Botany 49(7): 737-748.)
Renanthera taxa, including hybrid species and cultivars, are used extensively in the horticultural trade for their vivid flowers. The race of Renanthera coccinea commonly grown in Hawaii has 57 pairs of chromosomes (2n =114) and is considered hexaploid as it has seven complete chromosomes sets. Most Renanthera species contain 17 pairs of chromosomes and are diploid with only two sets of chromosomes. Despite having different numbers of chromosomes artificial crosses with diploid Renanthera species produce viable offspring.
(Kamemoto, H. and Shindo, K. 1962. Genome relationships in interspecific and intergeneric hybrids of Renanthera. American Journal of Botany 49(7): 737-748.)
