Acanthephippium mantinianum L.Linden & Cogn.

At first sight the flowers of this genus almost not look like orchids but separate one into different parts and you’ll find all the familiar features. Closely belong to the same group as Calanthe and Phaius, there are, at present count, some 13 species in this genus widely spread throughout tropical and subtropical Asia and the southwestern Pacific islands. Only two or three species, Acanthephippium mantinianum and Acanthephippium sylhetense are experienced in cultivation and then not that frequently. Acanthephippium mantinianum is always present to the Philippines while the other species is widely spreaded from the Philippines eastward to India.

The genus Acanthephippium was first described by Carl Blume in 1825, the name comes from two Greek words akantha meaning thorn and ephippion which means saddle and refers to the rather saddle-shaped lip. Acanthephippium mantinianum are reasonably sized plants with pseudobulbs shaped like a cone that reach about 15cm (6 inches) tall carrying several foliage thin-textured leaves up to 60cm (2 feet) long. The inflorescences (there may frequently be more than one) are produced from near the base of the newly developing summer growths before the leaves have started to unroll and open and, while only about 15cm (6 inches) long, show the fleshy flowers well. Each inflorescence can produce up to 7, strikingly colored flowers that are around 3cm (1.2 inches) wide and about 4cm (1.6 inches) long and quite strongly fragrant. Fragrant – not odorous!

Acanthephippium mantinianum comes from low to moderate elevations (500-1500 meters, 1650-5000 feet) and should be grown under intermediate environments in pots or pans of well-drained terrestrial orchid mix. Any mediu+m appropriate for cymbidiums will work fine for these plants. The thin-textured foliage is easily sunburned so bright shade appropriate for Phaius should be given (up to about 2500 foot candles). While in active growth they should be watered and fertilized constantly. Once growths are completed, they should be allowed to become almost dry between waterings. Like their Phaius cousins, leaf tip die back is nearly always an indication of insufficient water. A word of warning – these plants dislike interruption so they should be repotted only when completely necessary and then only when you see indications of new root growth. This flush of new root growth comes after the flush of new vegetative growth (remember they flower from the newly developing growth) and failure to repot at the right time is the most common reason for the death of the plant. It must be gotten rid of from the plant, if an old pseudobulb becomes infected with a fungal rot. If the rotten portions of the old bulb are carefully taken away and the cut surface allowed to dry, it is possible to get not active eyes along the remaining bulb section to sprout by putting the severed bulb horizontally on slightly wet potting medium and keeping it humid. Frequently, this is a way to rescue plant that has been severely traumatized by wrong repotting.