Observation on Growth Behaviour of Geodorum <I> recurvum </I>(Roxb.) Alston Pseudobulbs in Nature and in Cultivated Condition for Propagation

Abstract

Geodorum recurvum (Roxb.) is a terrestrial orchid having  pseudobulbs of corm-liked structure beneath the soil surface. The corms perform different habit from those of other terrestrial orchids, i.e. the old corms initiated in previous years, instead of rotten away, still attached to each other in sympodial file.  Observation on growth behaviour of the corms was carried out to investigate the possibilities of separating the old corms to be used as the propagating materials.  It revealed that almost all of the old corms, even 10 years old, still survived to the current year.  However, when they were individually detached and planted out, a single one of them, except the deformed ones, could grow and produced 1 or more shoots per corm.  Each shoot grew into a mature plant and consequently produced a new corm.  This result thus showed a rather high potential of the old corms being used for multiplication purpose.