Pleurothallis | |
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Pleurothallis epiglottis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Orchidaceae |
Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
Tribe: | Epidendreae |
Subtribe: | Pleurothallidinae |
Genus: | Pleurothallis R.Br., 1813 |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Pleurothallis is a genus of orchids commonly called bonnet orchids. The genus name is derived from the Greek word pleurothallos, meaning "riblike branches". This refers to the rib-like stems of many species. The genus is often abbreviated as "Pths" in horticultural trade.
This was a huge genus, which contained more than 1,200 species - the second largest in the Orchidaceae after Bulbophyllum . In 2004, it decreased by more than half when many species were moved into new genera. [2]
Pleurothallis is a completely New World group, widespread across much of Mexico, Central America, South America and the West Indies. [1] Flora of North America [3] lists one species in Florida (P. gelida) but this has now been transferred to a different genus, Stelis . [4] The center of diversity of the genus is in the high Andes, especially in the chain of cloud forests in Colombia. Pleurothallis grows in dry or wet, tropical or temperate climates.
As a group they show a huge range in vegetative form, terrestrial or epiphytic, and can be found as tall cane-like plants a meter or so high, clumped or trailing, pendent or climbing, erect or creeping, tufted and tiny, delicate moss-like species that can grow on the thinnest of twigs. [5] But they have one common denominator: they all have two pollinia.
They have reduced their pseudobulbs and instead, some species have thick succulent leaves.
Their flowers are among the most diverse and unusual, although often very small, and specialize in using tiny insects such as gnats, flies or small wasps for pollination. [6]
To bring some order in this extremely diverse genus, 29 subgenera and 25 sections had been created. Much of this work has been done by Dr. C. Luer of the Missouri Botanical Garden. A new analysis, based on DNA testing, confirmed on the whole the classification of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae, with however Pleurothallis as the main difference. New genetic insight broke up this huge genus and made it more consistent with the principles of monophyletic genera and evolutionary relationships.
Several times before, a splitting up has been attempted, but there were always too many intermediate forms. In 2004 the genera Acianthera , Ancipitia , Antilla , Apoda-prorepentia , Areldia , Atopoglossum , Brenesia , Crocodeilanthe were created, incorporating a large number of former Pleurothallis species. [2] The subgenera Pleurothallis and Specklinia are becoming separate genera, and the subgenus Acuminatae might become the proposed genus Anathallis .
Other allied genera include Dracula , Masdevallia , Restrepia , and Stelis . [7]
As of July 2023 [update] , Kew's Plants of the World Online listed around 555 species in the genus. [1] Selected species include:
Stelis, or leach orchids, is a large genus of orchids, with perhaps 500 species. The generic name Stelis is the Greek word for 'mistletoe', referring to the epiphytic habit of these species. These mainly epiphytic plants are widely distributed throughout much of South America, Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and Florida. Stelis is abbreviated Ste. in the horticultural trade.
Masdevallia, abbreviated Masd in horticultural trade, is a large genus of flowering plants of the Pleurothallidinae, a subtribe of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). There are over 500 species, grouped into several subgenera. The genus is named for Jose Masdevall (?-1801), a physician and botanist in the court of Charles III of Spain.
The Pleurothallidinae are a neotropical subtribe of plants of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) including 29 genera in more than 4000 species.
The orchid genus Dracula, abbreviated as Drac in horticultural trade, consists of 118 species native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The name Dracula literally means "little dragon", an allusion to the mythical Count Dracula, a lead character in numerous vampire novels and films. The name was applied to the orchid because of the blood-red color of several of the species, and the strange aspect of the long spurs of the sepals. The plants were once included in the genus Masdevallia, but became a separate genus in 1978. This genus has been placed in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae.
Chamelophyton is a genus of orchids. As of May 2014, only one species is known, Chamelophyton kegelii, native to Suriname and Venezuela.
Myoxanthus is a genus of orchids with about 50 species, widely distributed in Central and South America. This genus is a close ally of Pleurothallis.
Platystele is a genus of orchids, comprising 123 species. Most of these have small flowers, some of the smallest in the family. The genus is widespread across Mexico, Central America, Cuba, and South America as far south as Bolivia, but infrequent in Brazil.
Teagueia is a genus of orchids. They are found at high altitudes in the Andes in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
Stelis brenneri is a species of orchid described by Carlyle A. Luer and named for Joe Brenner, formerly of Puyo, Ecuador, who collected this species. Originally described as Pleurothallis brenneri, this species is common in several areas of southeastern Ecuador in relatively dry scrub forest at high altitudes.
Acianthera aphthosa is a species of orchid. It was first described by John Lindley in 1838 as Pleurothallis aphthosa, but was assigned to the genus, Acianthera, in 2001 by Pridgeon and Mark W. Chase. It is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.
Barbosella cogniauxiana is a species of orchid.
Brachionidium folsomii is a species of orchid native to Central America.
Restrepia guttulata, commonly called the small-spotted restrepia, is a species of orchid occurring from Venezuela to Ecuador.
Carlyle August Luer was a botanist specializing in the Orchidaceae. His specialty interest was the Pleurothallidinae and allied species.
Ophidion is a genus of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Panama to western South America and Venezuela. The genus was established by Carlyle A. Luer. It has been included in a broad circumscription of Phloeophila, but there is evidence that it forms a monophyletic taxon, and it is accepted by Plants of the World Online.
Leslie Andrew Garay, born Garay László András, was an American botanist. He was the curator of the Oakes Ames Orchid Herbarium at Harvard University, where he succeeded Charles Schweinfurth in 1958. In 1957 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Acianthera cachensis is a species of orchid native to Costa Rica. It was first formally named Pleurothallis cachensis in 1923 and transferred to the genus Acianthera in 2016.
Stelis roseopunctata is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. It was first described by John Lindley in 1846 as Pleurothallis roseopunctata and transferred to Stelis by Rodrigo Bernal in 2015. Stelis elegans(Kunth) Pridgeon & M.W.Chase is a synonym of Stelis roseopunctata; Stelis elegansLuer & R.Vásquez is a separate species.
Stelis alleyoop is a species of leach orchid in the family Orchidaceae, native to Colombia. An epiphyte, it is named for Alley Oop, the hairy caveman who is the title character of the Alley Oop comic strip.
Stelis rodrigoi is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to Colombia. It was first described by Carlyle A. Luer in 1982 as Condylago rodrigoi.