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Cleisostoma

Cleisostoma Blume

An Indo-Malesian genus of about 90 species of epiphytic orchids, Cleisostoma is represented in India by 18 species . Only one species occurs in Kerala, first discovered and illustrated by Van Rheede (1693), who called it Tsjerou Mau Maravara , a pre Linnean name .

cleistoma tenuifloium 1. Cleisostoma tenuifloium (L.) Garay, Bot.Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 23 (4): 30 . 1972; Seidenfaden 1973 : 86; 1975: 30.

Epidendrum tenuifolium L., Sp. Pl. 2: 952. 1753.

Sarcanthus peninsularis Dalz., Hooker's J. Bot. & Kew Misc. 3: 343 . 1851; J.D.Hook. 1890: 67; Fischer in Gamble 1928 : 1447 ; Santapau & Kapadia 1966: 230 ; Jayaweera in Dassanayake & Fosberg 1981: 273.

S. Pauciflorus Wight , Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 5 (1): 20.t. 1747. 1851; Abraham & Vatsala 1981: 471.

Rheede's Tsjerou Mau maravara (Hort. Malab.12: T. 5 . 1693) was made the basis for Linnaeus's Epidendrum tenuifolium (1753).

Occurrence : Trivandrum , Quilon, Pathanamthitta, Idukki ,Thrissur , Palghat , Wayanad and Kannur Districts.

Distribution : South West India (Karnataka , Kerala,Tamil Nadu), Sri Lanka and Thailand.


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