Chroniochilus

Chroniochilus is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains 5 species, native to Yunnan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.^[2]

Chroniochilus
Botanical illustration of Chroniochilus minimus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Vandeae
Subtribe:	Aeridinae
Genus:	Chroniochilus J.J.Sm., 1918
Type species
Chroniochilus tjidadapense J.J.Sm.[1]

Taxonomy

Species

1. C. ecalcaratus (Holttum) Garay - Pahang, Sabah
2. C. minimus (Blume) J.J.Sm. - Borneo, Java, Malaysia
3. C. sinicus L.J.Chen & Z.J.Liu - Yunnan
4. C. thrixspermoides (Schltr.) Garay - Sumatra
5. C. virescens (Ridl.) Holttum - Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia

Description

Generative characteristics

Chroniochilus produces small flowers on racemose inflorescences. The conical, fleshy, mobile labellum does not bear a spur. The androecium consists of two pollinia.^[3] In Chroniochilus sinicus, flowering occurs from August to October.^[3]

Etymology

The generic name Chroniochilus is derived from the Greek chronios, meaning lasting or persistent, and cheilos, meaning lip.^[1]

Conservation

It has been recommended to categorize Chroniochilus sinicus as endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List criteria.^[3]