What is Stanhopea?





I was asked to make a brief outline of Stanhopea so that those individuals who visit this site are provided general information for this orchid group.  Stanhopea is a genus within the Orchidaceae (The Orchid Family).  These orchids are epiphytic (grow on trees), and occasionally semi-terrestrial (found growing in leaf mold and duff) on slopes.  They grow in moderate to high rainfall areas in tropical and subtropical climates, and are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America (see the table below for the number of species per country).  These orchids grow in forests receiving part to deep shade, and in habitats from near sea level up to 9,840 ft. (0 to 3,000 m). Several species grow in mountain foothill forests and many species can survive short dry seasons.  There are approximately 65 species currently recognized with 5 natural hybrids and dozens of man made hybrids registered.

Country	Number of Species	Country	Number of Species	Country	Number of Species	Country	Number of Species
Argentina	1	Costa Rica	11	Guyana	1	Paraguay	1
Belize	3	Ecuador	12	Honduras	6	Peru	13
Bolivia	5	El Salvador	4	Mexico	13	Suriname	1
Brazil	6	French Guiana	1	Nicaragua	9	Trinidad	1
Colombia	19	Guatemala	8	Panama	13	Venezuela	5

   Table of Stanhopea species listed by country. This list includes the five known natural hybrids. 

This orchid genus is known for prominent pseudobulbs that are oval to rounded in shape, from 1.0-2.0 in. (2.5-5.0 cm) wide, topped with a single lanceolate to elliptic shaped leaf.  The plants are usually small to moderate sized orchids from 8.0-26.0 in. (20 cm to 65 cm) tall.  The unusual nature of blooming and presentation of the inflorescences by growing through the bottom of growing media is a unique characteristic of these orchids.  The pendent inflorescences require that the orchid be grown in wire baskets to allow the inflorescence to mature.  The flowers are fantastic in their shape and complexity, and have  an intricate pollination biology.  For additional information on the flowers of Stanhopea see the The Stanhopea Morphology Page.

Micaela's Stanhopea graveolens
growing in a greenhouse

The genus was named by John Frost after the Fourth Earl of Stanhope - Sir Philipp Henry (president of the Medico- Botanical Society of London at the time) and described by William Jackson Hooker in 1829.  Stanhopea insignis is the species that was first described within the genus Stanhopea; however, Stanhopea hernandezii  was described first under a name derived from the Aztec language(Coatzonte Coxochitl) in Francisco Herdandez’s work Rerum Medicarum Novae Hispaniae Thesarus finalized in 1575.  It is interesting to note that in the Aztec language (Nahuatl) the word coatzontecoxóchitl can translate as "snake-head flower" (Ossenback, 2009).  This word or similar words were used by the Aztecs to describe several orchids including S. hernandezii and S. tigrina.  These and other orchids were revered by the Aztecs for their beauty and fragrance (Bateman, 1837-43) and several were used in decoration (Hagsater et al., 2005).  It is clear from these accounts that the Aztecs were also captivated by Stanhopeas!  For a more detailed account of the history of Stanhopea see (Jenny, 2010).

References:

Bateman, J. 1837-43.  The Orchidaceae from Mexico and Guatemala. J. Hidgway and Sons, London.

Hágsater, E. Soto Arenas, M.A., Salazar, G., Jiménez, R., López, M. and Dressler, R. 2005. Las Orquideas de México, Productos Farmaceuticos, S.A. de C.V., México.

Jenny, R. 2010.  The Stanhopea Book.  Imprenta Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador.

Ossenback, C. 2009. Orchids and orchidology in Central America: 500 years of history. Lankesteriana V. 9, 1-2.