ISHS Acta Horticulturae 413: II International Symposium on Taxonomy of Cultivated Plants
CALATHEA ORNATA AND RELATIVES, AN ORNATE CONFUSION |
| Author: | H. Kennedy |
| Abstract:
The patterned-leaved species in the "Ornata group", Calathea ornata (Lemaire) Koernicke and related species, have long been prized by horticulturists as foliage plants. In the typical lined-pattern, the juvenile leaves are green above, patterned with pink lines between the lateral veins, and purple below. As the plant matures, the lines change to white, and usually disappear in leaves of mature, flowering plants. The underside of the leaf often changes from purple to green as well. Some plants produce a secondary "brush" pattern of 2 broad, longitudinal, yellowish green bands after the lined pattern. Some species or populations within a species are polymorphic for pattern. Calathea ornata was the first of the lined-patterned Calatheas to be described. Although originally described as distinct species C. regalis, C. majestica and C. sanderiana were subsequently treated merely as varieties of C ornata, because of the similarity of their juvenile foliage. Inflorescence morphology shows that they are all distinct species. A new combination, Calathea regalis, is made for Maranta regalis Rollison ex Lemaire. Calathea ornata died out in horticulture after 15 years and was replaced by the more vigorous C majestica, but the earlier name was erroneously applied to it and has continued in use. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
