| Bletilla striata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Arethuseae |
| Genus: | Bletilla |
| Species: | B. striata |
| Binomial name | |
| Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb.f. (1878) | |
| Synonyms | |
Synonyms list
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Bletilla striata, known as hyacinth orchid or Chinese ground orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae, native to Japan, Korea, Myanmar (Burma), and China (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang). It is most commonly found growing in clumps alongside grassy slopes with sandy soil.
The Latin specific epithet striata means "striped", in reference to the ribbed leaves.
Description
Bletilla striata is a terrestrial orchid with pleated, spear-shaped leaves. It breaks dormancy in early spring, with each tuber of the previous year potentially sending out multiple shoots. These growths mature over the course of a couple months and eventually bear 3-7 magenta-pink flowers.
Cultivation
In cultivation in the UK it is hardy in sheltered locations down to −10 °C (14 °F). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
In the U.S. it may be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5–9, although a winter mulching for plants grown in zone 5 is recommended.
Like most terrestrial orchids, it drops its leaves as it enters winter dormancy; however, it tolerates moisture during this period much better than most others. Nevertheless, it is encouraged to grow Bletilla striata in a well-draining, humus-rich mix.
Uses
Bletilla striata is used in Asian traditional medicine for problems with the lining of the alimentary canal, such as ulcers.
It is also used as a natural glue for making silk strings for traditional Chinese instruments such as the guqin.
References
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Bletilla striata". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- Flora of China v 25 p 210, 白及 bai ji, Bletilla striata
- Ōi, Jisaburō. Flora of Japan (English translation). The Smithsonian Institution, 1965
- Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
- ^ "MO Botanical Garden - Bletilla striata". Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- "Phytesia - Bletilla". Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- Chunming Wang; Jiantao Sun; Yi Luo; Weihua Xue; Huajia Diao; Lei Dong; Jiangning Chen; Junfeng Zhang (2006). "A Polysaccharide Isolated from the Medicinal Herb Bletilla striata Induces Endothelial Cells Proliferation and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in vitro". Biotechnology Letters. 28 (8): 539–543. doi:10.1007/s10529-006-0011-x. PMID 16614890. S2CID 21034616.
- "Chapter 9: The Method for Making Strings". Yu-Ku-Chai translation. Vol. 3.
External links
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Bletilla striata |
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| Limodorum striatum | |
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