Acriopsis javanica Reinw.

Common Name or Meaning

The Lily-Like Leaf Acriopsis - In Thailand - Ruhini

Flower Size

1/2" [1.25 cm]

Moderate shade and humidity as well as hot to warm conditions are required with a dry period when not growing and then ample water while in growth to have this epiphytic orchid bloom in the spring and summer on a basal, 22" [25 cm] long, erect, paniculate inflorescence with many [to 200] flowers arising basally with basal sheaths where it is found in Thailand, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sulawesi, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Northern Australia and the Philippines from sealevel to under 1600 meters in altitude in lowland swamps and montane forests as well as semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests at elevations of sealevel to 700 meters. This small to medium sized epiphyte has small, clustered, ovoid, 5 to 7 noded pseudobulbs and carries 3 to 4 apical, coriaceous, linear, obtuse leaves and has a symbiotic relationship with ants.

In java treatments for fevers associated with Malaria have been treated by boiling the plant and making a broth which is taken by mouth.

Synonyms Acriopsis annamica Finet 1911; Acriopsis crispa Griff.; Acriopsis floribunda Ames 1920; Acriopsis griffithii Rchb. f. 1854; Acriopsis harae Tuyama 1964; Acriopsis insulari-silvatica Fukuy. 1938; !Acriopsis javanica Reinw. ex Blume 1823; Acriopsis javanica var. auriculata Minderh. & de Vogel 1986; Acriopsis javanica var. floribunda (Ames) Minderh. & de Vogel 1986; Acriopsis liliifolia var. auriculata (Minderh. & de Vogel) J.J.Wood 2001 ; Acriopsis picta Lindl. 1843; Acriopsis nelsoniana F.M. Bailey 1883; Acriopsis papuana Kraenzl. ex K. Schum. & Lauterb. 1905; Acriopsis philippinensis Ames 1908; Acriopsis picta Lindl. 1843; Acriopsis sumatrana Schltr. 1900; *Epidendrum liliifolium Koenig 1791; Spathoglottis trivalvis Lindl. 1828

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Bonplandia Rchb.f 1854 as A griffithii; Bonplandia Rchb.f 1857 as A javanica; Orchids of Burma Grant 1895/1995; Die Orchideen Von Java J.J.Sm. 1905 as Acriopsis javanica; AOS Bulletin Vol 28 No 4 1959; The Orchids of Thailand Seidenfaden & Smitinand 1959 as A javanica drawing fide; Encylopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965 as A javanica; AOS Bulletin Vol 47 No 6 1978; Manual of Cultivated Orchids Bechtel, Cribb, Laurent 1992 as A javanica; Orchid Monographs Vol 1 De Vogel 1986 as A javanica; A Checklist of the Orchids of Borneo Wood & Cribb 1994; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995 as A javanica; The Orchids of Penninsular Malaysia Teo 1995 as Acriopsis javanica; The Orchids Of Malaya Holtum 1953 as A javanica; Orchidiana Philippiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984; The Orchids of Penninsular Malaysia and Singapore Seidenfaden 7 Wood 1992 as A javanica; A Feild Guide to the Wild Orchids of Thailand Vaddhanaphuti 2001 as A javanica; The A to Z of SE Asian Orchid Species O'Byrne 2001 A liliifolia; The Orchids of the Philippines Cootes as a A javanica; Botanica's Orchids Laurel Glenn 2002; Orchids of Java Comber 1990; Lindleyana Vol 17 No 1 2002; Orchids of Sumatra Comber 2002; Flora Malesiana Orchids of the Philippines Vol I Agoo, Shuiteman and de Vogel 2003; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 8 2004 photo; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol III Shuiteman and de Vogel 2006; Orchids of Bhutan Pearce & Cribb 2007