Gastrochilus is a genus of epiphytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae, belonging to the order Asparagales. The genus was described by David Don in his 1825 work Prodromus Florae Nepalensis, and is abbreviated Gchls in the horticultural trade. It is treated in depth in Genera Orchidacearum Volume 6: Epidendroideae (Part 3) (Pridgeon et al., 2014).
The genus is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, with its range spanning China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, India (including Assam and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (including Java and Sumatra), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Members of the genus typically grow as epiphytes in subtropical and tropical moist forests.
Gastrochilus is distinguished by its saccate or pouch-like lip (labellum), a feature reflected in the genus name derived from the Greek words gaster (stomach or belly) and cheilos (lip). The genus comprises roughly 50–60 accepted species. Notable members include Gastrochilus calceolaris, which is widespread across much of Southeast Asia, and Gastrochilus japonicus (Tamra gastrochilus), native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Etymology
The name Gastrochilus derives from the Greek gaster (stomach or belly) and cheilos (lip), referring to the distinctive saccate, pouch-like labellum (lip) characteristic of flowers in this genus. The genus was established by David Don in 1825.
Distribution
Gastrochilus is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, with species recorded from China (including Hainan, Tibet, and Yunnan), Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Species typically grow as epiphytes in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Ecology
Members of Gastrochilus grow as epiphytes in subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests across eastern and southeastern Asia. Several species face threats from habitat loss; Gastrochilus calceolaris, for example, is considered endangered within the Philippines where it is known from only a single location in Benguet province.
Cultivation
Gastrochilus orchids are cultivated by orchid enthusiasts, abbreviated Gchls in the horticultural trade. As epiphytes from subtropical and tropical Asian forests, they typically require warm to intermediate temperatures, high humidity, good air circulation, and bright indirect light in cultivation.
