Jumellea fragrans
1891 illustration (as Angraecum fragrans) from Curtis's botanical magazine Volume 117
Botanical illustration of Jumellea fragrans as Angraecum fragrans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Jumellea
Species:
J. fragrans
Binomial name
Jumellea fragrans
(Thouars) Schltr.
Jumellea fragrans is native to Mauritius and Réunion[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Aeranthes fragrans (Thouars) Rchb.f.
  • Aerobion fragrans (Thouars) Spreng.
  • Angorkis fragrangis Thouars
  • Angraecum fragrans Thouars
  • Epidorkis fragrans (Thouars) Kuntze

Jumellea fragrans, also known as faham,[2][3] is a species of orchid in the genus Jumellea. It is native to the islands of Mauritius and Réunion.[1]

Ecology

It grows as an epiphyte in the lowland rain forest up to 500 m above sea level. [4]

Description

The species blooms in March-April with a single flowered inflorescence with 3 basal bracts. [5] The flower has a spur of approximately 39 mm long and is pollinated by hawk moths. [6]

Taxonomy

Differentiation from Jumellea rossii

These two similar species can be confused. Jumellea rossii occurs at high altitudes, whereas Jumellea fragrans occurs at lower elevations.[2] Three important diagnostic characters for species delimitation have been identified: The length of the spur, the leaf length, as well as the leaf width:[7]

SpeciesSpur length[7]Leaf length[7]Leaf width[7]
Jumellea fragrans >30 mm >85 mm >14 mm
Jumellea rossii <30 mm <85 mm <14 mm

Phylogeny

Jumellea fragrans is the sister group to Jumellea rossii. It is also closely related to Jumellea tenuibracteata, Jumellea francoisii, and Jumellea alionae, as can be seen in the following cladogram:[8]

Jumellea fragrans

Jumellea rossii

Jumellea spec.

Jumellea tenuibracteata

Jumellea francoisii

Jumellea alionae

Uses

The fragrant leaves and flowers are boiled in hot water to extract its aromatic qualities. This is used to flavour rum on Reunion Island. Other uses that have fallen out of favour include digestive aid, remedy for respiratory disease, ice cream and custards.[5] The plant's use for medicinal purposes on Mauritius is thought to be critically endangered.[9]

Conservation

It is threatened due to unsustainable overcollection in wild habitats and lack of agricultural production.[2] It is recommended to categorize Jumellea fragrans as vulnerable (VU) under the IUCN Red List criteria.[7]

Physiology

Coumarin, and two groups of diterpenes (kaurenes, phytadienes) have been isolated from this species foliage.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jumellea fragrans". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Laury Blambert. "Biologie et chimie des jumellea aromatiques de la Réunion : application à la conservation et à la valorisation des espèces." Biodiversité et Ecologie. Université de la Réunion, 2016. Français. NNT: 2016LARE0034. tel-01525694
  3. 1 2 Sing, A. S. C., Smadja, J., Brevard, H., Maignial, L., Chaintreau, A., & Marion, J. P. (1992). "Volatile constituents of faham (Jumellea fragrans (Thou.) Schltr.)." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 40(4), 642-646.
  4. ↑ Blambert, Laury (March 2016). "Reproductive patterns, genetic diversity and inbreeding depression in two closely related Jumellea species with contrasting patterns of commonness and distribution". Annals of Botany. 118 (1): 93–103. doi:10.1093/aob/mcw014. PMC 4934390. PMID 26944785.
  5. 1 2 "Jumellea fragrans (Thouars) Schltr. 1914". Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Mallet, B. (2014). Effet de l'habitat et des pollinisateurs sur la diversification du faham (Jumellea spp., Orchidaceae) aux Mascareignes. France: Université de la Réunion.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Bertrand Mallet, Laurence Humeau, Laury Blambert, Fanny Rakotoarivelo, Claudia Baider, et al.. Différences morphologiques et identification de Jumellea rossii et Jumellea fragrans (Orchidaceae) à l’île de La Réunion : implications pour la conservation. Revue d’Ecologie, Terre et Vie, 2012, Sup11, pp.73-84. hal-03530468
  8. ↑ Rakotoarivelo, F. P., Razafimandimbison, S. G., Mallet, B., Faliniaina, L., & Pailler, T. (2012). "Molecular systematics and evolutionary trends and relationships in the genus Jumellea (Orchidaceae): implications for its species limits." Taxon, 61(3), 534-544.
  9. ↑ "Newsletter of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission" (PDF). No. Volume 15. IUCN. May 2012.


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