SYSTEMATICS OF THE SUBTRIBE

PLEUROTHALLIDINAE (ORCHIDACEAE)

In Dressler’s recent classification of the Orchidaceae (Dressier 1981),

the subfamily Epidendroideae is divided into nine tribes. TVibe Epiden-

dreae is divided into ten subtribes, the largest of which is the Pleuro-

thallidinae with perhaps as many as 4,000 species in 29 genera. They

are widely distributed in tropical America from southern Mexico and

Florida to southern Brazil. The Pleurothallidinae are distinguished by

single-leaved, non-pseudobulbous stems (ramicauls), and a deciduous

ovary articulated with the pedicel. About half the species have been

customarily treated in one conglomerate genus, Pleurotkallis. Treated

separately, this genus contains many discordant elements that might

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

be recognized as genera, but are best treated as subgeneric taxa.

The systematics of Pleurothallis and Masdevallia will be published

separately because of the large number of subgeneric taxa. Publica¬

tions of the species of these two genera and those of Lepanthes and

Stelis will be divided into geographical or political areas because of

their great numbers. The remaining smaller genera will be published

individually in their entirety, that is, as completely as known at the

The taxonomy of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae has long been in

need of revision. Prior keys to the genera and species, based on dried, or

dried and reconstituted flowers, are fraught with problems. Subtle and

even obvious differences and similarities have eluded careful re¬

searchers. Unnatural groupings have been formed, and related ele¬

ments have been dispersed into distant parts of the keys. Early mis¬

conceptions are often perpetuated without subsequent re-evaluation.

Difficulties have arisen because the minute, delicate, morphological

features of the pleurothallid flower are usually either distorted or

destroyed in the process of pressing and drying, thus obscuring inter¬

pretations of relationships. Vegetative anatomy has been largely over¬

looked until recently.

Old keys have been based on variable and commonly shared features

such as the size of the spathe, the shape of the leaf, the length of the

raceme etc., most of which fail to bring related species together. In more

recent keys the primary cleavage is based on the number of pollinia,

but if the pollinia are absent from a specimen in question, as is often

the case, a problem immediately arises.

Generic delimitations within the Pleurothallidinae, and within other

subtnbes or tribes as well, have sometimes been determined by a single

character, and in some cases, this character is microscopic (e.g., the

number of pollinia.) I believe that, when possible, a genus should be

recognizable by the appearance of the plant as a whole. Therefore, for

the purpose of identification in the following artificial key, vegetative

features are considered first, followed where feasible by characteristics

ot the inflorescence, and finally by features of the floral parts, first

gross, then microscopic.

In the o rc hids and some other rapidly evolving pollinator-oriented

iamilies (e.g. the Gesneriaceae, Scrophulariaceae, etc.) certain vegetative

features seem to be more basic and stable than some floral features,

providing characters that help in delineating groups. Some floral fea¬

tures seem to be more fluid, i.e., more readily altered by the pressures of

speciation, the column not excepted. There is no reason why evolution¬

ary divergence or convergence should be excluded from the morphology

ot any of the components of the plant, vegetative or floral. Where to

draw genenc or subgeneric lines is a perplexing problem. Certain

inothei^ hlCh SeGm important in defining some taxa are unimportant

^though a few species in almost every genus will be readily recog¬

nized by some remarkable peculiarity of their habit or vegetative parte

(e.g., the pendent leaves of Masdevallia caesia Roezl and Stelis cauda-

& V *squez), some plants will defy identification to genus

( n° m o Sp f ieS ° f Masde ™M* as opposed to some spe-

Su Z*™*?** S ’ Sca P hose P“l um ’ etc.). Fortunately, even old,

of iHfloresccnce 8 will aid in diagnosing the genus. Figure 1.

is a generalized sketch of the vegetative parte of a pleurothallid.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

The habit of the rhizome (the “primary stem”) cannot be a good

generic criterion because both densely caepitose plants (those with an

abbreviated rhizome) and plants with a long, repent or scandent rhi¬

zome occur randomly within many genera, a good example of genera

sharing a common genetic potentiality. Coupled with other features,

the repent rhizome may offer some diagnostic clues. Strictly speaking'

the primary stem is the first stem produced by the protocorm, and all

subsequent stems are secondary.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Roots cannot be used satisfactorily for generic identifications. Within

some genera the roots may be thin and slender, or thick and fleshy.

Some roots are partially pubescent, most are not. Some roots are purple,

and these may be seen in Lepanthes, Platystele, or Pleurothallis. In

some taxa branching of the roots is frequent (e.g., Dresslerella, Pleuro¬

thallis subgen. Kraenzlinella), but this quality is infrequent in most

species.

The ramicaul, a new term suggested for use in the Pleurothallidinae

to replace the old term “secondary stem” (Stem & Pridgeon 1984), the

more or less erect, aerial stem that bears the leaf, is always normally

unifoliate at the apex. Sometimes it may not appear to be unifoliate in

species (e.g., Myoxanthus chloe Luer & V&squez, or Pleurothallis ramu-

losa Lindl.) with prolific stems, ramicauls that produce other ramicauls

at the same point of emergence as the inflorescence. The ramicaul may

be extremely short or markedly elongated, slender or stout, terete,

sharply laterally compressed, triquetrous, or even four-angled as in

Pleurothallis tetragona Luer & Escobar. When three-angled, the mar¬

gins of the leaf are sometimes decurrent on the wings of the stem so

that the inflorescence seems to emerge from the blade of the leaf some

distance above the base. Most of these qualities are good generic clues.

A non-proliferated ramicaul originates from the rhizome at an annu¬

lar node, presumably the site of origin of all the vascular bundles con¬

tained within that ramicaul. Within the stem the peripheral foliar bun¬

dles surround the more central floral bundles (Figure 2.). The stem is

typically cylindrical and non-pseudobulbous, although in some species

of Myoxanthus, the ramicaul is distinctly swollen at the base.

A. B. C.

Figure 2. Cross-sections of the ramicaul of a species of Stelis.

A. through the shaft.

B. just below the emergence of the inflorescence.

C. just above the emergence of the inflorescence.

The shaft of the ramicaul is variously enclosed by more or less dis¬

tinctive types of tubular sheaths (e.g., Lepanthes , Myoxanthus, Restre-

pia, Drichosalpinx, etc.), each sheath originating at a superficial, annu¬

lar node from a few of the most peripheral bundles without disturbance

of the more internal bundles. In the Pleurothallidinae the apex of the

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

ramicaul is considered to extend to the abscission layer with the leaf,

where all foliar bundles eventually become disrupted (Figure 3.). In

some abnormal clones the abscission layer may be lacking, in which

case the old, desiccated leaves remain unshed on the stems.

The site of emergence of the inflorescence is apical or lateral from

near or very near the apex of the ramicaul, or from some distance below

it, but almost always above any node of a cauline sheath, and with or

without an association of an as yet unexplained “ring” (Figure 4.). In a

very few instances the inflorescence emerges from a point on the rami¬

caul below the level of a cauline sheath, or even from the rhizome [e.g.,

Figure 4. Diagramatic sketches of the terminal segment of the ramicaul.

A. Myoxanthus sp. B. Stelis sp.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Myoxanthus lappiformis (Heller & L.O.Wms.) Luer or Pleurothallis

johnsonii Ames], and in these cases without the associated ring.

The origin, function and analogy of this ring are unknown. It is a

discrete, non-sheath-bearing, annular thickening or groove usually

easy to see encircling the ramicaul at the level of the emergence of the

inflorescence. Within this ring, or “annulus,” the vascular bundles to

the leaf are abruptly thickened and adherent in a transverse plane. At

this level within the ramicaul the floral node develops at the termina¬

tion of the floral vascular bundles. In species without an annulus the

floral node is exserted, not contained within the substance of the rami¬

caul, although the distance may be very short. However, there is some¬

times only a localized swelling at this level, and the vascular bundles

continue without change to the abscission layer. If it were not for the

absence of the annulus in many genera, the ramicaul of the pleurothal-

lid might be interpreted to terminate at the annulus instead of the

leaf-stem abscission layer. At least in the Pleurothallidinae the abscis¬

sion layer may be considered to indicate the apex of the ramicaul.

The annulus is absent in all genera with more than two pollinia. It is

best developed in some subgenera of Pleurothallis, but in other subgen¬

era it is faint, obscured by the abscission layer, or totally absent. As

with other morphological features, the annulus is important in delin¬

eating some taxa, but not others.

Although the leaves of some genera are distinctive (e.g., the thin,

sharply carinate leaves of Dracula , and the thick, ciliated leaves of

Dresslerella), the size and shape are too variable to be of much value in

determining most genera. Thick, fleshy leaves, more than can be con¬

sidered simply coriaceous, occur seemingly randomly in many genera,

especially in species from xerophytic habitats. In Pleurothallis subgen.

Pleurobotryum the fleshy leaves, often laterally compressed, seem to be

a constant character. Terete leaves occur in species of Dryadella,

Lepanthes, Masdevallia, Octomeria , Platystele, several subgenera of

Pleurothallis, and Stelis. Verrucose leaves occur in Lepanthes, Pleuro¬

thallis , and Porroglossum. Pubescent leaves occur in Dresslerella and

Lepanthes, and erose leaves occur in Lepanthes, Lepanthopsis, and

Pleurothallis. Recent studies in foliar micro-anatomy have supported

the segregation of some genera (Pridgeon & Stem 1982).

The apex of the leaf of the majority of the pleurothallid genera is

minutely notched, or cleft, with the tip of the midrib extending as a

mucrorn the sinus, hence the term tridenticulate. The apex of the leaf of

Dresslerella is entire. The base of the pleurothallid leaf is either sessile

or, more or less distinctly narrowed into a petiole above the abscission

layer. In the Pleurothallidinae the petiole is merely the constricted base

of certain leaves.

The inflorescence, single-flowered or racemose, emerges with a bract

which is specialized in many species of several genera into a conspicu¬

ous spathe. The peduncle and rachis are usually terete, but they may be

verrucose, pubescent, laterally compressed, or triquetrous. The raceme

may be solitary or multiple, long or short, stout or slender, erect or

gSf* few ‘ t0 many-flowered. Or, the raceme may be reduced to a

^rLft! Wer ’ ° ft l n ^ erey a maj iifestation of a very abbreviated

hidden within the spathe. Soli¬

tary flowers may be borne by long or short pedicels, by long or short

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

peduncles, and they may appear successively or simultaneously, some¬

times in dense fascicles.

The floral bract, sometimes conspicuous, subtends the pedicel. The

pedicels of solitary flowers and the terminal flowers of racemes produce

a vestige of the “next” flower in the form of a filament from their

adaxial surface. The filament may be microscopic, or so large as to

protrude beneath the flower as an aborted bud. Ames noticed this ves¬

tigial structure on a species of Restrepia and, apparently believing the

structure to be unique, he described the species as R. filamentosa. A

filament is present in all species of Restrepia (Plate 21.). A prominent

filament is also present on the pedicel of all species of Barbosella (Plate

2.) and Brachionidium (Plate 4.).

The tricarpellate ovary, articulated with the pedicel, may be smooth,

pitted, grooved, ribbed, crested, pubescent, verrucose, or echinate, all

features shared by many genera. At the present time it is not believed

to be of generic diagnostic value.

The three sepals are commonly similar, and various degrees of adhe¬

sion or connation occur. A constricted sepaline tube formed by the deep

connation of all three sepals has developed in some species of Masde-

vallia, Pleurothallis subgen. Physosiphon and Sarracenella, and Tri-

chosalpinx obliquipetala (Ames & Schweinf.) Luer. In other taxa

(Ophidion, three subgenera of Pleurothallis, and Zootrophion), the

sepals are adherent or connate at the apex. In species of many genera

the lateral sepals are united into a synsepal which often appears sim¬

ilar to the free middle sepal. A multitude of variations in the size, shape,

texture, and color may be seen. The transverse callus above the base of

the sepals in Dryadella, and the large, cushionlike callus at the apex in

Scaphosepalum are hallmarks of these genera. The apices of the sepals

are drawn out into tails in most of the species of Dracula, Masdevallia,

Pleurothallis subgen. Muscaria, Porroglossum, and Scaphosepalum.

The two petals are always similar to each other, but they, too, are

subject to a myriad of modifications. In Octomeria they approach the

sepals in size, shape, and color. In other genera they may be reduced to

minute, vestigial organs (e.g., Pleurothallis vestigipetala Luer). The

petals in other genera may be specialized into functional roles. The

apices of the petals of some species have evolved osmophores (e.g.,

some species of Myoxanthus and Restrepia). In Dracula the petals are

bivalved and verrucose at the apex. In Stelis they are typically trans¬

versely thickened along the obtuse apical margin. In Masdevallia they

are typically longitudinally thickened along the labellar margin, often

forming a tooth. In Lepanthes the petals are usually transversely

bilobed.

As would be expected, the lip may vary greatly. The shape, lobula¬

tions and calli may vary markedly within the species of a single genus

(e.g., Myoxanthus), but in some taxa the basic pattern remains more or

less constant (e.g., Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia). In some species

the lip is reduced to a mere vestige (e.g. Pleurothallis abortiva Luer).

The mysteries surrounding the mushroomlike lips of the species of

Dracula remain unsolved. Various forms of nectaries or other morpho¬

logical features evolved as pollinator attractants occur. The middle lobe

of the lip of many species of Lepanthes is modified into a lure which

resembles that of an angler fish.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

In many species of Brachionidium, Lepanthopsis, Platystele, Pleuro-

thallis, and Stelis, there is a well-demarcated, more or less circular

structure on the front surface of the lip just above the base and posi¬

tioned beneath the stigma (Plate 18.). The function of the “little eye,” the

glenion, is unproven, but in all likelihood it plays an important role in

attracting the pollinator.

The base of the lip in most genera is usually delicately hinged to the

apex of the column-foot by a thin membrane or strap. Sometimes the

strap is so short and tight that the lip actually becomes adnate to the

column-foot as seen in Dracula chimaera (Rchb. f.) Luer and Pleurothal-

lis xiphizusa Rchb. f. and a few of its allies. The hinge may be a ball-

and-socket articulation as in Barbosella , or the base may not be hinged

at all, but connected directly to the undersurface of the column as in

Lepanthes , or connected to the column-base by an immobile cylindrical

A different mechanical device for effecting a springlike, sensitive lip

has evolved independently in three genera: Acostaea, Condylago and

Porroglossum. See text.

The column is also found to be subject to extreme changes. It may be

long or short, slender or stout, winged or wingless, and with or without

a basal extension, the column-foot. The basic patterns of related groups

may be greatly modified, sometimes almost beyond recognition as in

some subgeneric taxa of Pleurothallis.

The position of the anther, rostellum and stigma vary greatly, even

within a well-recognized genus, and to some degree even within a spe¬

cies. The anther and rostellum may be dorsal, apical and antrorse

(pointed forward and exposed), ventral and retrorse (pointed backward

and more or less hooded) (Figure 5.), or any degree in between. When

the anther bed lies “on top” of the resupinate column, the anther is

“dorsal.” In the latter case the rostellum is “apical.” When the anther

bed, or the stigma, occupies the end of the column, it is “apical.” When

the anther bed and the stigma are situated on the under surface of the

column with or without a hooded apex, they are “ventral.”

According to accepted orchid terminology, however, the position of

the anther is said to be either “erect” or “decumbent,” which are syn¬

onymous with “dorsal” and “ventral” as used in these papers on the

Pleurothallidinae.

I have, however, avoided commonly used terms such as erect, porrect,

decumbent, incumbent, reclining, etc., which mean something different

to each of us. Since the column is most often horizontal in the natural

position, even when the flower is non-resupinate, does an “erect”

anther stand up on the column perpendicularly? In its common usage

for orchids, however, “erect” means parallel to the shaft of the column.

But either a dorsal or a ventral anther can be parallel to the shaft

The pollima, in pairs, 2,4,6, or 8 in number, are usually yellow, firm

m texture usually ovoid, with or without a caudicle which, when pres-

ent may be granular or elastic. They may or may not be associated

with a tiny viscidium, or a droplet from the rostellum. Species which

tionafpair aVe °“ e ** PairS ° f P 011 *™* ma y rarely produce an addi-

L Th f, g ? neric significance of the number of pollinia is debatable:

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SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

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B. C. D.

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four pollinia and Chamelophyton with six pollinia might drop into

Pleurothallis with two pollinia, and Restrepiopsis with four pollinia

might be united with Octomeria or Pleurothallopsis, each with eight

pollinia. Both six and eight pollinia must be allowed in Brachionidium.

Therefore, the numbers of pollinia cannot be as important to generic

delimitations as once believed by some authors.

The stigma is always solitary, although it is transverse or bilobed in

Brachionidium, Lepantkopsis and Platystele , and in many species of

Pleurothallis and Stelis. Even a few species of Lepanthes have a

bilobed stigma. When bilobed, the two lobes can be seen to be confluent

beneath the rostellar flap. In some extreme cases in Stelis, the receptive

surfaces extend outward on long arms.

In summary, I conclude that keys to the genera and subgenera must

be totally artificial. It is impossible at this time to construct any phy¬

logenetic order; even the direction of the evolution of the number of

pollinia, from 2 to 8, or from 8 to 2, is debatable. If the direction were

from 8 to 2, as a reduction in numbers would seem to imply, a racemose

inflorescence and the annulus would have to be acquired structures.

The other way, I believe, is more likely. It appears as if an increase in

the number of pollinia developed independently in several isolated

lines of evolution.

A KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

JI ii I! Ill II ii 11 ii III ill li

PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

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ICONES PLEUROTHALXID1NARUM

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Genus Acostaea

Acostaea costaricensis Schltr.

Plate 1.

Genus Barbosella

Barbosella cucullata (Lindl.) Schltr. Plate 2.

Genus Barbrodria

Barbrodria miersii (Lindl.) Luer

Plate 3.

Genus Brachionidium

Brachionidium vasquezii Luer

Plate 4.

Genus Chamelophyton

Chamelophyton kegelii

(Rchb.f.) Garay

Plate 5.

Genus Condylago

Condylago rodrigoi Luer

Plate 6.

Genus Dracula

Dracula radiosa (Rchb.f.) Luer

Plate 7.

Genus Dresslerella

Dresslerella hirsutissima

(C. Schweinf.) Luer

Plate 8.

Genus Dryadella

Dryadella minuscula

Luer & Escobar

Plate 9.

Genus Frondaria

Frondaria caulescens (Lindl.) Luer

Plate 10.

Genus Lepanthes

Lepanthes posadae

Luer & Escobar

Plate 11.

Genus Lepanthopsis

Lepanthopsis acetabulum Luer

Plate 12.

Genus Masdevallia

Masdevallia affinis lindl.

Plate 13.

Genus Myoxanthus

Myoxanthus melittanthus

(Schltr.) Luer

Plate 14.

Genus Octomeria

Octomeria brevifolia Cogn.

Plate 15.

Genus Ophidion

Ophidion cunabulum

(Luer & Escobar) Luer

Plate 16.

Genus Platy stele

Platystele orectoglossa P. Ortiz

Plate 17.

Genus Pleurothallis

Pleurothallis cyanea

Luer & Escobar

Plate 18.

Genus Pleurothallopsis

Pleurothallopsis nemorosa

(Barb. Rodr.) Porto & Brade

Plate 19.

Genus Porroglossum

Porroglossum muscosum

Plate 20.

(Rchb.f.) Schltr.

Genus Restrepia

Restrepia teaguei Luer

Plate 21.

Genus Restrepiella

Restrepiella ophiocephala

Plate 22.

(Lindl.) Garay

Genus Restrepiopsis

Restrepiopsis striata

Plate 23.

Luer & Escobar

Genus Salpistele

Salpistele dielsii (Mansf.) Luer

Plate 24.

Genus Scaphosepalum

Scaphosepalum ophidion Luer

Plate 25.

Genus Stelis

Stelis argentata Lindl.

Plate 26.

Genus Trichosalpinx

Trichosalpinx ciliaris (Lindl.) Luer

Plate 27.

Genus Trisetella

Trisetella pantex (Luer) Luer

Plate 28.

Genus Zootrophion

Zootrophion hypodiscus

Plate 29.

(Rchb.f.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

TAXONOMY OF THE SUBTRIBE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

Subtribe Pleurothallidinae Lindl., (Edward’s Bot. Reg.15: tab.1928

1829, nomen nudum); Gen. Sp. Orch. PI. 3,1830.

Type: Epidendrum ruscifolium Jacq., Enum. PI. Carib. 29 1760

[Pleurothallis ruscifolia (Jacq.) R. Br. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. ed.

2,5:211,1813]

Ety.: From the Greek pleurothallos, “riblike branches,” referring to

the caespitose, slender ramicauls seen in P ruscifolia and in

much of the rest of the Pleurothallidinae, and - inae , the pres¬

cribed ending for a subtribe.

Plants perennial, epiphytic to terrestrial. Aerial stems (ramicauls) non-pseudobulbous

unifoliate. Leaf coriaceous, duplicate, articulate. Inflorescence lateral or terminal, single-

flowered or racemose. Ovary articulated with the pedicel. Column short or long, the base

often developed into a column-foot. Anther dorsal, apical, or ventral; pollinia 2,4,6, or 8

spherical to ovoid, with or without a caudicle or a viscidium. Stigma apical or ventral

solitary, either entire or bilobed.

The Genera

Acostaea Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 19:283,1923.

Lectotype: Acostaea costaricensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni

Veg. Beih. 19:284,1923. (Index Nom. Gen. 64/24402,1967)

Ety.: Named in honor of Guillermo Acosta, collector of Costa Rican

orchids.

Schlechter described this small genus of diminutive plants from

dried material. He noted the broadly winged column with a curved foot

to which the petals and remarkable lip are attached, but neither he nor

subsequent authors were able to appreciate the peculiar motility of the

lip which can be observed only in living specimens.

Contrary to prior statements (Garay 1974), the flowers are resupinate,

and the lip is not balanced so that the weight of an insect would carry it

“down” between the columnar wings. In reality, the lip is lowermost

and the base is broad and concave under tension with the equally

broad apex of the column-foot, much in the way of the folding wings of

a paper bird in Japanese origami. A large callus occupies the disc.

Somewhere and somehow a stimulus causes the lip to snap suddenly

upward to trap the intruder between the columnar wings. After a period

of time the pollinator is released as the lip again descends to its former

receptive position.

Sensitive lips occur in other tribes of orchids, as well as in two other

pleurothallid genera ( Condylago and Porroglossum).

About eight species from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecua¬

dor constitute the genus. Vegetatively the plants resemble those in sev¬

eral other genera: small caespitose plants with narrowly elliptical

leaves produced on short ramicals with an annulus. The flowers are

borne in succession in loose racemes that surpass the leaves in length.

Two pollinia are present.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 1. Acostaea costaricensis Schltr.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

Barbosella Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 15:259,1918.

Lectotype: Pleurothallis gardneri Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28: Misc.

83, 1842. [Barbosella gardneri (Lindl.) Schltr., Repert. Spec.

Nov. Regni Veg. 15:261,1918] (Luer Selbyana 5:386,1981)

Ety.: Named in honor of J. Barbosa Rodrigues, renowned investiga¬

tor of Brazilian orchids.

This genus consists of about 20 closely allied species widespread

from Central America to southern Brazil. The plants, commonly repent

but sometimes caespitose, are characterized by short ramicauls, solitary

flowers borne by a peduncle that emerges laterally from the ramicaul

without an annulus, and a well-developed column with a hooded ven¬

tral anther and stigma. Four pollinia are present. The bulbous apex of

the stout column-foot articulates with a concavity at the base of the lip

like a ball-and-socket joint.

In his revision of the genus Restrepia H.B.K. Schlechter (1918) pro¬

posed the genus Barbosella when he segregated 14 species from Restre¬

pia that could no longer be accommodated by his new delimitations for

the genus. The earliest species he attributed to the new genus Barbo¬

sella were Pleurothallis gardneri and P miersii, described simultane¬

ously by Lindley in 1842. Most of the species then and since then attrib¬

uted to Barbosella have been related with a ventral anther and stigma,

and the typical “socket” articulation of the lip to the column, except for

B. miersii which has an apical anther and stigma, and a simply hinged

lip.

Since Schlechter had designated no type for Barbosella, Angely

designated a lectotype in 1973, but he chose the only species that did not

conform to all the others: B. miersii. A new lectotype, B. gardneri, was

designated in 1981, and the monotypic genus Barbrodria was proposed

to accommodate B. miersii.

Barbrodria Luer, Selbyana 5:386,1981.

Type: Pleurothallis miersii Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28: Misc. 84,

1842. [Barbrodria miersii (Lindl.) Luer, Selbyana 5:386,1981]

Ety.: Named in honor of J. Barbosa Rodrigues (Barb. Rodr.), author of

numerous Brazilian orchid taxa.

This monotypic genus, erected to accommodate one Brazilian species

which had been residing in Barbosella, may be identified by the minute

creeping habit, tiny solitary flowers with a simply hinged lip, a short

column with an apical anther and stigma, and four pollinia.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 2. Barbosella cucullata (Lindl.) Schltr.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

Plate 3. Barbrodria miersii (Lindl.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALIJDINARUM

Brachionidium Iindl., Folia Orchid. Brachionidium 1,1859.

Lectotype: Restrepia parvifolia Iindl., Orchid. Lind., 4, 1846. [Bra¬

chionidium parvifolium (Iindl.) Lindl., Folia Orchid. Bra¬

chionidium 1,1859] (Garay, Canad. J. Bot. 34:729,1956)

Ety.: From the Greek brachium, “an arm,” and the diminutive end¬

ing -idium, referring to the stigmatic arms.

Syn.: Yolanda Hoehne, Arq. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro 22:72,1919.

Type: Yolanda restrepioides Hoehne, Arq. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro 22:72,1919.

Ety.: Named in honor of Yolanda, daughter of F. C. Hoehne, Brazilian botanist.

Syn.: Brachionidium sect. Yolanda (Hoehne) Pabst, Bradea 1(24):269,1972.

Type: Yolanda restrepioides Hoehne, Arq. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro 22:72,1919.

This genus contains 35 known, interrelated species widespread in

Tropical America. The plants are characterized by sheathed, stemlike,

branching rhizomes that may creep, ascend or stand erect, and produce

at intervals a short, similarly sheathed aerial stem (the ramicaul) and

its leaf. The sheaths are usually long-acuminate and glabrous, but in a

few species the sheaths are scurfy.

The ephemeral flowers are solitary and non-resupinate with four,

free, membranous flower parts: a dorsal synsepal, a ventral middle

sepal, and a large pair of petals similar to the sepals. The lip is thick

and transverse with a central callus. The column is short and broad

with an apical anther and a transverse, apical stigma which is bilobu-

late. In many instances the lobes appear to be separate, but beneath the

rostellar flap the lobes are contiguous, as they are in Pleurothallis sub¬

gen. Pleurothallis and Stelis. There are six or eight pollinia (in pairs of

three or four) without correlation to any morphological feature. The

genus Yolanda was based on eight pollinia, but in B. parvifolium, the

type of the genus, eight (not six, Garay 1956) pollinia are present.

Therefore, the proposed section Yolanda (Hoehne) Pabst is invalid.

Chamelophyton Garay, Orquideologia 9:115,1974.

Type: Restrepia kegelii Rehb.f., Linnaea 41:133, 1877. [Chamelo¬

phyton kegelii (Rehb.f.) Garay, Orquideologia 9:115,1974]

Ety.: From the Greek chamelophyton, “a low-growing plant,” in ref¬

erence to the habit of the species.

Syn.: Garayella Brieg., Die Orchideen 425,1975, nom. invalid.

Type: Pleurothallis hexandra Garay & Dunsterv., Ven. Orch. Ill. 3:252,1965. [Garayella

hexandra (Garay & Dunsterv.) Brieg., Die Orchideen 425, 1975] [Chamelo¬

phyton kegelii (Rehb.f.) Garay]

Ety.: Named in honor of Leslie A. Garay of the Ames Herbarium, co-author of the

synonym Pleurothallis hexandra.

The single species of this genus with six pollinia from Venezuela and

Guayana was attributed to Restrepia by Reichenbach and to Pleuro¬

thallis by Garay who later erected the genus Chamelophyton to

accommodate the plant. The plant is very small and creeping with

prostrate leaves and solitary flowers. The lateral sepals are connate,

the lip is three-lobed, and the column is elongate with a ventral anther

and stigma.

Chamelophyton is very closely related to Pleurothallis subgen. Aci-

anthera sect. Phloeophilae, differing only in the number of pollinia.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

Plate 4. Brachionidium vasquezii Luer

22 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 5. Chamelophyton kegelii (Rdib.f.) Garay

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHAIUDINAE

Condylago Luer, Orquideologia 15:118,1982.

Type: Condylago rodrigoi Luer, Orquideologia 15:118,1982.

Ety.: From the Latin condylus, “a condyle,” in allusion to the articu¬

lation of the lip to the column-foot.

This unique monotypic genus was created to accommodate the most

recently discovered pleurothallid with an independently evolved sensi¬

tive lip. Superficially the species resembles Pleurothallis flexuosa

Poepp. & Endl. The inflorescence emerges from the short ramicaul with

an annulus. The progressively flowered, long, flexuous raceme bears

flowers with long, white hairs on the interior of the sepals. The oblong

blade of the lip bears a disclike callus near the base above the straplike

claw that is attached to the back of the smooth, bulbous apex of the

column-foot. Riding with pressure on the front of the bulbous column-

foot are a pair of armlike extensions from the base of the blade of the lip

that resembles the condyles of a knee joint. Some unknown stimulus

causes the condyles to slip suddenly downward on the column-foot

causing the blade to snap upward beneath the column. After a period of

time the strap pulls the lip back into the exposed position, the condyles

now sliding upward on the surface of the column-foot. The column is

shallowly winged with a ventral anther and two pollinia.

Dracula Luer, Selby ana 2:190,1978.

Type: Masdevallia chimaera Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 463,1872. [Drac¬

ula chimaera (Rchb.f.) Luer, Selbyana 2:194,1978]

Ety.: From the Latin dracula, “a little dragon,” in allusion to the

fancied appearance of the flowers.

Syn.: Masdevallia sect. Saccilabiatae Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1238,1873.

Lectotype here designated: Masdevallia chimaera Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 463,1872.

Ety.: From the Latin saccus, “a sack,” and labiatus, “lipped,” referring to the saccate

epichile of the lip.

Syn.: Masdevallia sect. Chimaeroideae Krzl., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg.Beih. 34:125,

1925.

Type: Masdevallia chimaera Rchb. f., Gard. Chron. 463,1872.

Ety.: From the species chimaera and the Greek ending -oideus, referring to the similar¬

ity to M. chimaera.

Originally attributed to Masdevallia, apparently because of the sepa-

line tails, the species of Dracula constitute a well-defined taxon, as

unrelated to Masdevallia as they are unrelated to any other pleurothal¬

lid genus. Over 80 species are known from Central America and the

northwestern Andes.

The comparatively thin, sometimes even plicate leaves with a

sharply defined midrib are borne by a shorter ramicaul. The flowers

with long-tailed sepals are borne singly or successively in commonly

pendent racemes, which originate from the ramicaul with an annulus a

considerable distance below the abscission layer. The small, unique

petals that flank the column are thickened apically, usually verrucose

between a pair of valvelike laminae. The extraordinary lip is clearly

divided into a cleft hypochile and a more or less rounded, concave

epichile that is often coursed by lamellate, radiating “veins.” The con¬

cave base is hinged to the stout column-foot, but in a few species the

attachment becomes immobile with adnation of the base to the column-

foot. The column is well-developed, semiterete with a hooded ventral

anther and stigma, and a short, thick foot. Two pollinia are present.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 6. Condylago rodrigoi Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

Plate 7. Dracula radiosa (Rchb.f.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Dresslerella Luer, Selbyana 3:1,1976.

Type: Pleurothalis pertusa Dressier, Orquideologia 5:76,1970. [Dres¬

slerella pertusa (Dressier) Luer, Selbyana 3:6,1976]

Ety.: Named in honor of R. L. Dressier of the Smithsonian Tropical

Research Institute, foremost investigator of the Orchidaceae.

This genus of eight species from Central America and northwestern

South America is characterized by the more or less pubescent leaves

and cauline sheaths. The leaves of some species are merely minutely

ciliate while those of other species may be covered by a dense mat of

long hairs. The leaves are thick and heavy, often growing prostrate to

form leafy rosettes. The ramicauls are commonly shorter than the leaf,

and the inflorescence emerges without an annulus from the apex of the

ramicaul at the abscission layer with the sessile leaf. The solitary flow¬

ers are fleshy with the ovary and sepals pubescent. The column is

elongate and denticulate at the hooded apex. The ventral anther con¬

tains a pair of large pollinia flanked to either side by a smaller pollin-

ium for a total of four.

Dryadella Luer, Selbyana 2:207,1978.

Type: Masdevallia elata Luer, Phytologia 39:199, 1978. [Dryadella

elata (Luer) Luer, Selbyana 2:206,1978]

Ety.: Named for the dryads, the nymphs of trees and forests of classi¬

cal mythology.

Syn.: Masdevallia sect. Saltatrices sensu Woolward, The Genus Masdevallia sect.

XII, 1896, non Rchb.f., Linnaea 41:10,1877.

Syn.: Masdevallia subgen. Trigonanthe Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih.

35:48,1925, nomen nudum.

Lectotype here designated: Masdevallia Simula Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1:8,1875.

Ety.: From the Greek trigonanthos, “a triangular flower,” referring to the shape of the

flower.

Syn.: Masdevallia sect. Rhombopetalae KrzL, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih.

34:188,1925.

Lectotype here designated: Masdevallia Simula Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1:8,1875.

Ety.: From the Greek rhombopetalon, “a rhombus-shaped petal,” referring to the shape

of the petals.

Syn.: Trigonanthe (Schltr.) Brieg., Die Orchideen 448,1975, nom. invalid.

Lectotype here designated: Masdevallia Simula Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1:8,1875.

The 40 species of this genus distributed from Guatemala to southern

Brazil long resided in Masdevallia where they had been assigned

because of their superficial similarity. Vegetatively they are tufted little

plants with narrow, fleshy leaves with short ramicauls. The little flow-

ers are produced singly or successively in short racemes from an annu-

lus. ihe commonly caudate sepals are connate basally into a gaping

cup. Where the lateral sepals are deflexed from the cup above the base,

a transverse callus like a transverse fold, extends across the width of

the sepals so that the petals and lip above protrude over the “dam.” The

petals are short, broad and multi-angled. The bicallous blade of the lip

is hinged to the column-foot by a long, slender claw. The column is

broadly winged and hooded with a ventral anther and stigma. There

are two pollinia.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

Plate 8. Dresslerella hirsutissima (C. Schweinf.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALL1DINARUM

Plate 9. Dryadella minuscula Luer & Escobar

SYSTEMAT1CS

PLEUROTHALUDINAE

Frondaria Luer, gen. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis caulescens Lindl., J. Bot. (Hooker) 1:9,1834.

Ety.: From the Latin frons, “a leafy bough,” referring to the leaflike

sheaths of the ramicaul.

This species proposed here as a monotypic genus is unique in the

Pleurothallidinae because of the leaflike sheaths of the ramicaul. The

slender ramicaul, terminated by a single leaf with an abscission layer,

is enclosed by a series of close, imbricating, tubular sheaths with

oblique ostia, and with coriaceous, elliptical apices that resemble the

terminal leaf but without an abscission layer. The margins of some of

the sheath-blades are cellular-papular, suggesting a precursor to cilia.

The simultaneously flowered raceme emerges from the ramicaul with

an annulus below the abscission layer. The essentially free sepals and

petals are acute, and the lip is three-lobed. The column is short with an

apical anther and stigma. The two pollinia are spherical without

caudicles.

This species is fairly frequent at high altitudes (2500- 3000 meters

above sea level) from central Colombia to central Bolivia.

asgsffl™

Lepanthes Sw., Nov. Act. Soc. Sci. Upsala 6:85,1799.

Type: Lepanthes concinna Sw., Nov. Act. Soc. Sci. Upsala 6:85,1799,

nomen illeg. (Britton & Wilson, Sci. Surv. Porto Rico 5:206,

1924) ( Epidendrum ovale Sw., Prodr. 125,1788)

Ety.: From the Greek lepis, “a scale,” and anthos, “a flower,” refer¬

ring to the small, “scalelike” flowers.

This large genus, probably containing 600 or more species, is widely

distributed in the Antilles and from Mexico through Bolivia. Extremely

few species are known from Brazil. Some species are widespread, but

many are restricted to localized areas. Many species of Pleurothallis

were described in Lepanthes by Barbosa Rodrigues. w

It is this genus from which the concept of “lepanthiform sheaths

has been derived. Typically, the ramicauls are enclosed by a series of

tubular, ribbed, more or less imbricating sheaths with oblique, dilated,

margined ostia, and the ribs and margins of the ostia are grossly or

30 ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 10. Frondaria caulescens (Lindl.) Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

microscopically ciliate or scabrous, occasionally glabrous. The flowers,

usually produced successively in racemes with an annulus near the

apex of the ramicaul, are delicate, membranous and multicolored. The

petals and lip are commonly transversely lobed. The lip is usually so

highly specialized that its own terminology is required. The middle lobe

is commonly represented by an intricately sculpted, microscopic

appendix. The base of the lip is connate to the under surface and often

near the base of a footless column. The anther with a pair of pollinia is

dorsal or apical, and the stigma is apical, subapical or ventral.

Four subgenera may be recognized. Salpistele could possibly be con¬

ceived as a fifth, but the non-lepanthiform sheaths coupled with the

unique collar surrounding the apical anther and stigma seem sufficient

to maintain it as a genus.

KEY TO THE SUBGENERA AND SECTIONS OF LEPANTHES

1 Rhizome long-repent, prostrate to pendent.subgen. Brachycladium

T Rhizome short-repent or caespitose, erect if prolific.2

2 Lip transversely bilobed, the lateral lobes distinctly

modified into blades, the middle lobe almost always

modified into an appendix .subgen. Lepanthes sect. Lepanthes

2' Lip entire to transversely bilobed, the apex acute, obtuse,

round to retuse; if bilobed, the lateral lobes may be

thickened on the margins, but not modified into blades .3

3 Petals membranous, entire or transversely lobed; lip

membranous.subgen. Lepanthes sect. Haplocheilus

3' Petals fleshy, entire; lip fleshy; if lobed, not divided into laminae. 4

4 Petals broader than long; lip ovate.subgen. Marsipanthes sect. Caprimulginae

4' Petals linear. 5

5 Lip transversely oblong.subgen. Marsipanthes sect .Felinae

5' Lip bilobed, the lobes elongate. 6

6 Lip deeply bilobed, the lobes elongate.subgen. Marsipanthes sect. Marsipanthes

6' Lip not deeply bilobed, the sides enclosing the column subgen. Draconanthes

Lepanthes subgen. Brachycladium Luer, nom. nov.

Type: Lepanthes nummularia Rchb.f., Xenia Oreh. 1:142,1858.

Ety.: From the Greek brachyclados, “a short branch,” referring to the

short ramieauls.

Syn.: Lepanthes sect. Brachyclada Rchb.f., Xenia Orchidaceae 1:142,1858.

Type: Lepanthes nummularia Rchb.f., Xenia Orch. 1:142,1858.

The 20 species of this subgenus, distributed in the Andes from

Colombia to central Bolivia, are readily recognized by the repent, pend¬

ent habit. Long, hanging chains or sometimes mats of little, distichous

leaves are commonly formed. They resemble some species of Peperomia

or Trichosalpinx, e.g., T microcharis (Schltr.) Luer. The flowers are

produced singly or successively from short, congested racemes. The

flower parts are variable, compatible with both L . sect. Lepanthes and

sect. Haplocheilus.

ICONES PLEUROTH ALU DIN ARUM

Lepanthes subgen. Draconanthes Luer, subgen nov.

Type: Lepanthes aberrans Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg.

14:125,1915.

Ety.: From the Greek drakonanthos, “dragon-flower,” referring to the

This subgenus consists of four allied Andean species of high alti¬

tudes that differ from all other species of Lepanthes in the verrucose

flowers with linear petals and fleshy, verrucose lips with lateral lobes

surrounding a slender column. Three of the four species have calli pro¬

truding down from the under surface of the lip. The unguiculate base of

the lip is connate to the under surface of the base of the slender column.

Lepanthes subgen. Lepanthes

The vast majority of the species belong to this subgenus which may

be divided into two sections according to the modifications of the lip.

Otherwise, the species are not readily divisible into related groups.

Lepanthes subgen. Lepanthes sect. Haplocheilus Fawc. & Rendle,

Orchids of Jamaica 68, Dec. 1910*.

Lectotype here designated: Lepanthes breuipetala Fawc. & Rendle, J.

Bot. 47:5,1909.

Ety.: From the Greek haplocheilos, “a single lip,” referring to the

undivided lip.

Syn.: Lepanthes sect. Fawcelepanthes Cogn. Orch. Antill. 434,24 Dec. 1910.

Lectotype here designated: Lepanthes brevipetala Fawc. & Rendle, J. Bot. 47:5,1909.

present. Unfortunately, these features are not always easily deter-

mmed. The margins of the lobes are sometimes thickened so that they

could be interpreted as being thick, ill-defined laminae. Sometimes a

distinctly bilobed lip will have a middle lobe that could be called an

appendix.

Lepanthes subgen. Lepanthes sect. Lepanthes

‘KjtarSmn toth 1 of the

Ts “ 0f Jamaica 67 ' ““ 1910 *-

Plate 11. Lepanthes posadae Luer & Escobar

ICONES PLEUKOTHALUDINARUM

The lips of the species of this section are lobed, the lateral lobes

distinctly modified into blades that are carried to either side of or above

the column. The middle lobe, if present, is modified into an appendix.

Lepanthes subgen. Marsipanthes Luer, subgen. nov.

Type: Lepanthes ribes Luer, Selbyana 3:14,1976.

Ety.: From the Greek marsipos, “a pouch,” and anthos, “a flower,”

referring to the pouchlike sepaline cup.

Plantae parvae vel mediocres vaginis ramicaulium lepanthiformibus. Sepala in cupu-

lam suborbiculatam profunde connata. Petala camosa integra. Labellum camosum ova-

tum vel bilobatum apice breviter acutum.

This subgenus consists of three widely separated, probably not

closely related species, that are brought together by their suborbiciflar

sepaline cups. Each may be considered to represent a monotypic sec¬

tion. Each is distinguished by the morphology of the fleshy petals and

lip. They are not related to the species of L. sect. Lepanthes that also

have inflated, deeply connate sepals.

Lepanthes subgen. Marsipanthes sect. Caprimulginae Luer, sect,

nov.

Type: Lepanthes caprimulgus Luer, Selbyana 3:12,1976.

Ety.: Named for Caprimulgus, the genus of night hawks, in reference

to the appearance of the flower.

Petala latiora quam longiora. Labellum ovatum.

The species from northcentral Peru that constitutes this monotypic

section is distinguished by the petals that are wider than long, and an

ovate lip.

Lepanthes subgen. Marsipanthes sect. Felinae Luer, sect. nov.

Type: Lepanthes felis Luer & Escobar, Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull.

52:1264,1983.

Ety.: From the Latin felis, “the cat,” referring to . the fancied appear¬

ance of the flower.

Petala linearia. Labellum transverse oblongum.

The single species from the Western Cordillera of Colombia that

composes this section is distinguished by the linear petals and a trans¬

versely oblong lip.

Lepanthes subgen. Marsipanthes sect. Marsipanthes Luer, sect,

nov.

Type: Lepanthes ribes Luer, Selbyana 3:14,1976.

central western Ecuador that constitutes this mono-

Inga^laterallo^ ^ ** ** “““ ^ 311(1 the **

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

Lepanthopsis (Cogn.) Ames, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 1(9):3,1933.

Type: Pleurothallis floripecten Rchb.f., Bonplandia 2:25, 1854.

[Lepanthopsis floripecten (Rchb.f.) Ames, Bot. Mus. Leafl.

1(9):11,1923]

Ety.: From the genus Lepanthes and the Greek -opsis, “similar to,”

referring to the similarity of the species to Lepanthes.

Bas.: Pleurothallis sect. Lepanthopsis Cogn., FI. Bras. 3(4):38l, 1896.

Lectotype: Pleurothallis lateralis Cogn., FI. Bras. 3(4):592,1896. [Lepanthopsis flori¬

pecten (Rchb. f.) Ames] (Garay, Orquideologia 9:116,1974)

Lepanthopsis was first recognized as a section of two species of Pleu¬

rothallis by Cogniaux. Ames elevated the taxon to the rank of genus 37

years later by which time five species were known. Over 25 mostly

Andean and Caribbean species are known today.

The distinctive features are the lepanthiform sheaths of the rami-

cauls, and the small flowers with a short column with an apical anther

and an apical, bilobed stigma. Two pollinia are present.

Some species of the Caribbean grade into Trichosalpinx.

Masdevallia Ruiz & Pav., FI. Peruv. Chil. Prodr. 112,1794.

Type: Masdevallia uniflora Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. 238,1798.

Ety.: Named for Jos£ Masdevall, physician in the court of Charles III

of Spain.

Syn.: Luerella Braas, Die Orchidee 30:108,1979.

Type: Masdevallia pelecaniceps Luer, Selbyana 3:22,1976.

Ety.: Named for C. Luer who described the species.

Syn.: Rodrigoa Braas, Die Orchidee 30:203,1979.

Type: Masdevallia meleagris Lindl., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 1,15:257,1845.

Ety.: Named for Rodrigo Escobar of Medellin, Colombia.

This polymorphic genus of about 350 species is widely distributed

from Mexico to southern Brazil. The coriaceous leaves are borne by

short ramicauls and the inflorescence emerges with an annulus a con¬

siderable distance below the abscission layer. The sepals are variously

connate and commonly with tails. The petals are small with a callous

margin often developed into a tooth. The lip is more or less ligulate and

hinged to an incurved extension from the apex of the column-foot. The

column is terete with a hooded ventral anther with two pollinia.

The five subgenera and 17 sections are described in the Systematics

of the Genus Masdevallia (Luer 1986).

Myoxanthus Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. PL 1:50,1835-

Type: Myoxanthus monophyllus Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. bp. FI.

1:50,1835. „ J „ _

Ety.: From the Greek myoxos, “a dormouse, and anthos, a flower,

referring to some quality of the flower.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 12. Lepanthopsis acetabulum Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

Plate 13. Masdevallia affinis Iindl.

St!

ic genus of about 40 species is widely distributed in

Central and South America. It is most closely allied to Pleurothallis

subgen. Acianthera and genus Restrepiella. The sheaths of the rami-

cauls, often loose and easily shed, are often hispidulous. The rhizome

may be repent and the ramicaul may be prolific. The flowers are pro¬

duced singly, successively or simultaneously, sometimes in large

numbers in a fascicle, usually from near the apex of the ramicaul, but

sometimes low on the ramicaul or even from the rhizome. In all cases

the inflorescence emerges without an annulus.

The flowers are fleshy, often pubescent, and the lateral sepals may be

connate or free. The petals are variously thickened, the apices some¬

times developed into osmophores. The lips are polymorphic. The well-

developed column is variously winged or toothed partially covering the

ventral anther. The anther cap is sometimes spiculate on the upper

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE

Plate li ^Myoxanthus melittanthus (Schltr.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Octomeria R. Br. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. ed. 2,5:211,1813.

Type: Epidendrum graminifolium L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1363, 1763.

[Octomeria graminifolia (L.) R. Br. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. ed. 2,

5:211,1813]

Ety.: From the Greek oktomeros, “with eight parts,” referring to the

eight pollinia.

This genus of about 150 species is widely distributed in the American

tropics, but the greatest concentration occurs in southern Brazil. The

habit of the plants is variable, but all species are characterized by a

fascicle of single flowers emerging laterally in a fascicle from near the

apex of the ramicaul without an annulus. The sepals are usually equal

and free, but in a few species the lateral sepals are partially or nearly

wholly connate. The petals are large and membranous, similar to the

sepals. The lip is usually variously lobed below the middle with a pair

of carinae on the disc, and the base is hinged to the column-foot. Many

of the lips are similar to those of Restrepiopsis and Pleurothallopsis.

The column is semiterete, short or long, usually with a subapical

anther and stigma. Eight pollinia are present.

Two sections have been recognized by Cogniaux (1896), based on

whether the leaves are flat or terete. He has also divided both sections

into two subsections on the basis of connation of the lateral sepals.

Octomeria sect. Octomeria

Type: Epidendrum graminifolium L., Sp. PL ed. 2,1353,1763.

s P ecies are included in this section. The blades of

the thinly to thickly coriaceus leaves are duplicate, more or less flat,

and borne by short to long ramicauls, repent or caespitose.

Cogniaux (1896) recognizes two subsections.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Plate 15. Octomeria brevifolia Cogn.

L, Sp. PI. ed. 2,1353,1763.

Syn.: Enothrea Raf., FI. Tellur. 4:43,1836, nom. illeg.

tion. They are characterized by their size noticeably larger than that of

the species of the other subsection, elongate ramicauls, and free lateral

sepals.

Subsect. Pusillae Cogniaux, FI. Bras. 3(4):601,1896.

Lectotype here designated: Octomeria rubrifolia Barb. Rodr, Gen.

Spec. Orch. Nov. 1:31,1877.

Ety.: From the Latin pusilla, “very small,” referring to the habit.

Cogniaux included only four species in this subsection characterized

by the small habit of the species, abbreviated ramicauls, and more or

less connate lateral sepals.

Octomeria sect. Teretifoliae Barb. Rodr, Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:96,

1882, as Teretefolia.

TVpe: Octomeria teretifolia Barb. Rodr, Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:32,

1877, as teretefolia, non Lodd. ( Octomeria leptophylla Barb.

Rodr, Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:112,1882)

Ety.: From the Latin teretifolius, “terete-leaved,” referring to the

shape of the leaves.

This section contains those species with terete or semiterete leaves

borne by short to long ramicauls, and either repent or caespitose. In

some species the thick leaves are broad, making the boundary between

the two sections indistinct. Cogniaux divided the section into two

subsections.

Subsect. Leptophyllae Cogn, FI. Bras. 3(4):601,1896.

TyPC: ?882 mm<1 lept0phylla Barb * Rodr ” Gen * Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:112,

Ety.: From the Greek leptophyllon, “ a slender leaf,” referring to the

shape of the leaf.

Only in this one species are the lateral sepals connate.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

Subsect. Scirpoideae Cogn., FI. Bras. 3(4):601,1896.

Type: Aspegrenia scirpoidea Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 2:12,

1836. [Octomeria scirpoidea (Poepp. & Endl.) Rchb.f., Bot. Zei-

tung (Berlin) 10:856,1852]

Ety.: From the Latin scirpoideus , “rushlike,” referring to the terete

leaves.

Syn.: Aspegrenia Poepp. & Endl, Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 2:12,1836.

Type: Aspegrenia scirpoidea Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. PL 2:12,1836.

Ety.: Named in honor of Gustav Karsten Aspegren, a contemporary Swedish botanist.

Syn.: Gigliolia Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:25, July 1877; non Beccari, May 1877.

Lectotype: Gigliolia gera'ensis Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:26,1877. [Octomeria

geraensis (Barb. Rodr.) Barb. Rodr. Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:295,1882] (Garay,

Orquideologia 9:117,1974)

Ety.: Named in honor of Enrico H. Giglioli, professor of natural history at the Natural

History Museum of Florence, Italy.

Syn: Octomeria sect. Kinetoglossum Schltr., Arch. Jard. Bot Rio de Janeiro, 3:291,

1922.

Type: Octomeria campos-portoi Schltr., Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 3:291,1922.

Ety.: From the Greek kinetoglossum, “a moving tongue,” referring to the mobile lip.

Syn.: Octandrorchis Brieg., Die Orchideen 425,1975, nom. invalid.

Type: Octomeria leptophylla Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:112,1882. [Octandror¬

chis leptophylla (Barb. Rodr.) Brieg., Die Orchidee 425,1975]

Ety.: From the Greek octandro-, “with eight male parts,” and orchis, referring to the

eight pollinia.

Syn.: Octomeria sect. Teretifolia-Scirpoideae Pabst, Orch. Bras. 168,1975.

Lectotype here designated: Aspegrenia scirpoidea Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. PL

2:12,1836.

The dozen species included here are characterized by terete or semite-

rete leaves and free lateral sepals.

Ophidion Luer, Selbyana 7:79,1982.

Type: Cryptophoranthus cymbula Luer, Phytologia 46:346,1980.

[Ophidion cymbula (Luer) Luer, Selbyana 7:80,1982]

Ety.: From the Greek ophidion, “a little snake,” in allusion to the

appearance of the flowers.

This small genus, found from Central America through the Andes,

was proposed to accommodate four species with the apices of the sepals

connate to form lateral windows, similar to those of Zootrophion, but

with a totally different morphology of the lip. Adherence orconnation

of the tips of the sepals has evolved independently m several unrelated

Vegetatively the plants are not distinctive: narrowly djtotical leaves

borne by shorter ramicauls with the inflorescence “

annulus. The comparatively large lip is Z

with an epichile and a hypochile, except that the lateml lobes of he

hypochile are thick instead of hairlike. The lip is beldnpdly within the

concave svnsenal nearly filling it. The concave hypochile is inflexibly

connate toXeM^toldike inn-foot TheRender «ta»i

similar to that of Restrepia, but two instead of four pollinia are present.

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 16. Ophidian cunabulum (Luer & Escobar) Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Platystele Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8:565,1910.

Type: Platystele bulbinella Schltr., Repert, Spec. Nov. Regni Veg.

8:565, 1910. ( Stelis compacta Ames, Orchidaceae 3:76, t. 53,

1908) [Platystele compacta (Ames) Ames, Proc. Biol. Soc.

Wash. 35:85,1922]

Ety.: From the Greek platystele, “a broad column,” referring to the

broad but thin column of the species.

This genus of about 50 little species is frequent and widespread from

Mexico to Bolivia, but infrequent in Brazil. Except for a few repent

species, most are characterized by caespitose, narrowly obovate, short¬

stemmed leaves and a delicate raceme of successive or simultaneous

flowers shorter or longer than the leaf. The inflorescence emerges from

the ramicaul with an annulus below the abscission layer. The flowers

are small with free, more or less translucent sepals and petals. The lip

is simple and hinged to the base of the short column or pedestal-like

column-foot. The column is short and broad, more or less membranous

with an apical anther with two pollinia, and a bilobed, transverse

stigma similar to that of Lepanthopsis, Pleurothallis subgen. Pleura

thallis, and many species of Stelis.

This genus is very closely allied to Pleurothallis, and several authors

have reduced it to synonymy. However, the species form a rather hom¬

ogeneous unit, and they are easily recognized. A few species with

simultaneous flowers arranged in a row, resemble those of Lepanthop¬

sis, but the smooth, cauline sheaths prevent their inclusion. These spe¬

cies, also distinguished by basal lobes of the lip that embrace the

column, are segregated here into a subgenus.

KEY TO THE SUBGENERA OF PLATYSTELE

1 Raceme flexuous and loose, or successively flowered; lip entire.subgen. Platystele

T Raceme strict and simultaneously flowered; lip .‘Mobed.subgen. leagueia

Platystele subgen. Platystele

Type: Platystele bulbinella Schltr.

The great majority of the species of the genus are closely related and

are conveniently grouped together in this subgenus.

Platystele subgen. Teagueia Luer, subgen. nov

Type: Platystele teaguei Luer, Selbyana 5:157,19 •

Ety.: Named in honor of Walter Teague of San Francisco, LA, who

first discovered the type species.

Labellum trilobum excavatun

The three known species that constitute this

from the Central Cordillera of Colombia ( to . ^”r le®

comparatively large flowers with sepatajj ^ ' are \hreelobed with the

simultaneously in a stnct raceme. The p n r concave The

basal lobes surrounding the column, and the disc cleft or concave,

short column bears a transverse, bilobed stigma.

46 ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 17. Platystele orectoglossa P. Ortiz

the genus, and at one time or another about 25 genera have been rele¬

gated to its synonymy. At the present time 27 subgenera with 25 sec¬

tions may be counted.

The genus is treated in the Systematics of the Genus Pleurothallis (in

ed., Luer).

Pleurothallopsis Porto & Brade, Arq. Inst. BioL Veg. 3:133,1937.

Type: Lepanthes nemorosa Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:54,

1882. [Pleurothallopsis nemorosa (Barb. Rodr.) Porto & Brade,

Arq. Inst. Biol. Veg. 3:133,1937]

Ety.: From the Latin nemorosus, “pertaining to the forest,” referring

to the habitat.

The solitary species that comprises this genus was first described

without a lip or pollinia in Lepanthes by Barbosa Rodrigues. Cogniaux

transferred it to Pleurothallis [Pleurothallis sylvatica Cogn..Fl. Bras.

3(4):455,1896], still without knowledge of lip or pollinia. When the miss¬

ing data were eventually known, Dr. Paulo de Campos Porto and Dr.

Curt Brade described the genus Pleurothallopsis to accommodate the

unusual species. . ,

The ramicaul is enclosed by a senes of loose sheaths. The flowers are

produced singly by elongate, slender peduncles from near the apex,

presumably without an annulus (no material examined). The drawings

of the sepals (the laterals connate), petals and lip are the same as those

of Restrepiopsis. However, the drawing shows eight pollinia of equal

size. If it were not for the differences in the number of pollinia, Octo-

meria, Pleurothallopsis and Restrepiopsis might be united.

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

SYSTEMATICS OP THE PLEUROTALUDINAE

Plate 19. Pleurothallopsis nemorosa (Barb. Rodr.) Porto & Brade

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Porroglossum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7:82,1920.

Type: Porroglossum colombianum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni

Veg. Beih. 7:83, 1920. ( Masdevallia mordax Rchb.f., Flora

69:559, 1886) [Porroglossum mordax (Rchb.f.) Sweet, Orqui-

deologia 5:166,1970]

Ety.: From the Greek porro , “far, far off,” and glossa, “tongue,” refer¬

ring either to the position of the lip in relation to the column or

This Andean genus is composed of 23 species with a specialized lip

which was first noted to be sensitive when the phenomenon was

observed in cultivation at Kew by W. Bean (Oliver 1888). Vegetatively

the leaves are coriaceous, sometimes verrucose, narrowly obovate, from

a short ramicaul that produces the successively flowered inflorescence

with an annulus. The flowers may be either resupinate or non-

resupinate, and the sepals are usually caudate. The petals are small

and fleshy.

The blade of the lip is “anchor-shaped” with a callus at the base

above a long, bent claw which is attached to the back surface of the

column-foot. The column is short with an apical anther and rostellum,

and a large ventral stigma. The foot is much elongated, the distal half

tree froni the sepals. The free apex exerts pressure against the callous

base of the blade of the lip, the claw being bent around the free apex of

the column-foot. When the callus is stimulated, a presumed loss of tur-

gor in the callus causes the blade to snap upward to impinge the

intruder against the column. After a while the turgor is presumably

regained, again causing pressure against the apex of the column-foot

which forces the lip back down into its receptive position.

ochlechter was apparently unaware of the sensitive properties of the

ip when he descnbed the genus in 1920. He included only two species

{Masdevallia mordax and M. muscosa), not recognizing the other spe-

by time as being related. He transferred

three to Scaphosepalum and left two in Masdevallia

tot!5r 0n ^ aph 0f M ° sdev f ia ™ 19 25, Kranzlin completely failed

In scatfprint genUS; He r ! duc l ed lt “ to the ^onymy of Masdeval-

Iothiama B & SPeC,eS mt ° dlstant sections and his genus

SYSTEH

’of the pleurotaludinae

Plate 20. Porroglossum muscosum (Rchb.f.) Schltr.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Restrepia H.B.K.,Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 1:366,1816.

Type: Restrepia antennifera H.B.K.,Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 1:367,1816.

Ety.: Named in honor of Don Jose Restrepo, an early investigator of

the flora of Colombia.

Kunth described this genus from a collection by Humboldt and Bon-

pland of a widespread and relatively frequent Andean species. To date

about 80 epithets, many of them synonyms, have been added to the

genus. Several other genera, however, have been carved from the total,

leaving about 25 fairly well-defined species. Most seem interrelated

with R. antennifera. They are difficult to differentiate because of their

similarity and overlapping variabilities. There seems to be a wide¬

spread interbreeding population of similar forms which constitutes the

bulk of the genus as R. antennifera, and which occupies the center of

distribution in the high Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. Within the

circle, as well as on the periphery of the circle, populations have

evolved which seem to deserve recognition, and there are those popula¬

tions farther from the mainstream that clearly need to be recognized.

Reichenbach transferred the solitary species of Iindley’s Pinelia (R

hypolepta) to Restrepia in 1861, obviously believing it to be a pleuro-

thallid. It is for this reason that Pinelia is included in the list of genera

published in Pleurothallidinae.

Very briefly the genus may be identified by the ramicauls clothed by

a series of inflated, compressed, more or less imbricating sheaths; soli¬

tary flowers; a clavate dorsal sepal and petals; a colorful synsepal; and

a distinctive lip with a concave hypochile flanked by a pair of hairlike

appendages, and fixed to the pedestal-like column-foot by a short, rigid

rod. There are four pollinia.

Restrepiella Garay & Dunsterv., Ven. Orch. Ill. 4:266,1966.

Type: Pleurothallis ophiocephala Iindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 24:Misc.

34, 1838, non Barb. Rodr. 1882. [Restrepiella ophiocephala

(Lindl.) Garay & Dunsterv., Ven. Orch. Ill., 4:266,1966]

Ety.: Named for the genus Restrepia, plus the diminutive.

The single species comprising this genus is robust with a stout, well-

deve oped ramicaul with a tubular bract sheathing the middle, and a

couple bracts at the base. The inflorescence is single-flowered and the

flowers emerge successively from near the apex of the ramicaul without

an annulus suggesting a relationship with Myoxanthus or Pleurothal

Its subgen. Acianthera. The sepals are fleshy and pubescent, the petals

are ciliate, the Up is thick, and the column is well-developed with longi¬

tudinal wings and a toothed apex that incompletely covers the ventral

anther. Four pollinia are present.

The other species originally included in Restrepiella belong to Res-

trepiopsis which is more closely allied to Octomeria and Pleurothal-

lopsis.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Plate 21. Restrepia teaguei Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Plate 22. Restrepiella ophiocephala (Lindl.) Garay

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Restrepiopsis Luer, Selbyana 2:199,1978.

Type: Restrepia ujarensis Rchb.f., Bonplandia 3:225,1855.

[Restrepiopsis ujarensis (Rchb.f.) Luer, Selbyana 2:200,1978]

Ety.: Named for the genus Restrepia plus the Greek suffix denoting a

similarity.

This genus consists of about 18 interrelated species, vegetatively

more or less similar to Restrepia , and characterized by solitary, mem¬

branous flowers basically similar to many of those of Octomeria and

inseparable from Pleurothallopsis except for the number of pollinia.

The cauline sheaths of one species ( R . reichenbaehiana) are pubescent,

the basis for dividing the genus into two subgenera.

The inflorescense emerges laterally near the apex of the ramicaul

without an annulus. The dorsal sepal is free, but the lateral sepals may

be coherent. The petals are not as large in proportion to the sepals as

they are in Octomeria. The lips and columns are very similar to those of

many species in Octomeria, but eight pollinia are present. Four

pollinia are present in Restrepiopsis.

KEY TO THE SUBGENERA OF RESTREPIOPSIS

1 Sheaths of the ramicaul hirsute

V Sheaths of the ramicaul glabrous

Restrepiopsis subgen. Endresia Luer, subgen. nov.

Type: Restrepia reichenbaehiana Endres, Gard. Chron 2:356,1875.

[Restrepiopsis reichenbaehiana (Endres) Luer, Selbyana 5:387,

1981]

Ety.: Named in honor of Sr. Endres of Costa Rica who discovered and

described this species.

Vaginae ramicaulium hirsutae. Pedunculus elongatus.

This subgenus contains but one unusual species from Costa Rica.

The short ramicauls are enclosed by two to three hirsute, tubular

sheaths. The elongated peduncle exceeds the leaf in length. The flower

parts are typical for the genus.

Restrepiopsis subgen. Restrepiopsis

Type: Restrepia ujarensis Rchb.f. Bonplandia 3:225,1855.

All the other species of the genus are included in this subgenus.

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 23. Restrepiopsis striata Luer & Escobar

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALUDINAE

Salpistele Dressier, Orquideologia 14:6,1979.

Type: Salpistele brunnea Dressier, Orquideologia 14:6,1979.

Ety.: From the Greek salpinx, “a trumpet,” and stele, “a column,”

referring to the shape of the apex of the column.

This small genus of Central America and northwestern South Amer¬

ica is closely allied to Lepanthes, but the sheaths of the ramicauls are

not lepanthiform. As in many species of Lepanthes, the biparted lip is

attached to the under surface of a footless column, but the apex of the

column is terminated by a more or less flat, collarlike disc surrounding

the apical anther and stigma.

From Costa Rica Endres sent Reichenbach beautifully detailed draw¬

ings of the genus with the proposed name “Oreades.” These drawings

are preserved in Reichenbach’s herbarium at W.

The following transfers are necessary:

Salpistele dielsii (Mansf.) Luer, comb. nov.

Lepanthes dielsii Mansf., Biblioth. Bot. 29(116): 72,1937.

Salpistele pensilis (Schltr.) Luer, comb. nov.

Lepanthes pensilis Schltr. Repert. Beih. 8:56,1921.

Lepanthes echinocarpa LO.Wms., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 9:1,1940.

Scaphosepalum Pfitz., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 2(6):135,1888.

Type: Masdevallia ochthodes Rchb.f., Bonplandia 3:70, 1855. [Sca-

phosepalum ochthodes (Rchb.f.) Pfitz., Nat. Pflanzenfam.

2(6):139,1888]

Ety.: From the Greek scaphosepalos, “with boatlike sepals,” referring

to the shape of the lateral sepals.

Syn.: Pleurothallis sect. Racemosae Rchb.f., Bonplandia 2:24,1854.

Type: Masdevallia verrucosa Rchb.f., Linnaea 22:819, 1849. [Scaphosepalum verruco-

sum (Rchb.f.) Pfitz., Nat Pflanzenfam. 2(6):139,1888]

Ety.: From the Latin racemosus, “racemose,” referring to the inflorescence.

Syn.: Masdevallia sect. Verrucosae Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1:8,1876.

Type: Masdevallia verrucosa Rchb.f., Linnaea 22:819,1849.

Ety.: From the Latin verrucosus, “warty,” referring to the peduncles.

The earliest species of this genus to be described were attributed to

Masdevallia by Reichenbach, probably because of the vegetative sim¬

ilarity and the sepaline tails. Since he had only fragments of dried

specimens with which to work, he was not able to describe accurately

the cushionlike callus of the sepals until he described M. pulvinaris 25

years later. Approximately 25 species are found from Central America

to central Bolivia.

Vegetatively the plants are shortly repent to caespitose. The coriace¬

ous leaves are borne by short ramicauls and the inflorescence emerges

with an annulus low on the ramicaul. The raceme produces a succes¬

sion of non-resupinate flowers usually with caudate sepals. A usually

prominent, more or less flat, triangular callus occupies the inner sur¬

face of the lateral sepals toward the apex. The petals are fleshy, broad

and multiangular. The small lipisdeflexedand more or less crested and

lobed near the middle. The elongated, thick-footed column is winged

with a toothed apex partially covering the ventral anther with two

pollinia.

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Plate 24. Salpistele dielsii (Mansf.) Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALUDINAE

Plate 25. Scaphosepalum ophidion Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Stelis Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 2(4):239, t. 2, fig. 3, a-g, 1799, nom. eonserv.

Lectotype: Epidendrum ophioglossoides Jacq., Enum. PI. Carib. 29,

1760. [Stelis ophioglossoides (Jacq.) Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader)

2:239,1799] (Green, Prop. Brit. Bot. 100,1929)

Ety.: From the Greek stelis, “a kind of mistletoe,” in reference to the

appearance of the epiphytic plant.

Syn.: Humboldtia Ruiz & Pav., FI. Peruv. Chil. Prodr. 121, t. 27,1794, nom. eonserv.,non

Vahl 1794, nom. rej.

Lectotype: Humboldtia purpurea Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. FI. Peruv. Chil. 235, 1798.

[Stelis purpurea (Ruiz & Pav.) Willd., Sp. PI. 4:140,1805] (Garay & Sweet, J.

Arnold Arbor. 53:528,1972)

Ety.: Named in honor of the renowned German scientist and naturalist Alexander von

Humboldt (1769-1859), who explored the American Tropics.

A proposed retypification of the genus by Garay (Taxon 29:692,1980)

was rejected (Taxon 32:282, 1983). It was the committee’s consensus

that Jacquin’s types are based on his own collections. Garay had

declared that Epidendrum ophioglossopides is based on a polynomial

by Plunder of 1702, and on Plumier’s drawing published by Burmann in

1759. [Regardless, this crude sketch certainly is not “at once” referable

to Pleurothallis floribunda (Iindl.) Iindl. Since no petals are visible in

drawing, it could as easily be interpreted to represent Stelis ophioglos¬

soides (Jacq.) Sw.]

More than 500 species constitute this commonly neglected genus

which is frequent and widespread through the American tropics. The

genus is generally disliked by most professional and amateur botanists

because of the apparent sameness of the small flowers that are difficult

to interpret, especially after having been pressed and dried. Although

vegetatively the species vary greatly, most are readily recognized by

the inflorescence. The sepals are commonly about equally triangular,

but in many species the lateral sepals are connate into a concave syn-

sepal. The flowers of some species are sensitive, closing during the day

or when disturbed. In nearly all species the middle of the flower is

occupied by a compact central apparatus consisting of a short column

closely surrounded by small petals and a small lip.

The petals, with few exceptions, are small, transverse and margin¬

ally thickened, and they closely flank the column and lip. The lip,

with few exceptions, is small, thick, more or less transverse and three-

sided, the uppermost plane (the base) of the lip resting beneath the

column so that the glenion (page 8.) which is often present on the front

surface is placed beneath the rostellum. The various outlines of the

lateral views of the lips described by Garay (1980) merge into each

other, rendering useless many of his sections.

The column is short and broad with an apical anther and rostellum.

The stigma is also apical, and it is usually bilobed so that the lateral

lobes protrude to either side of the anther. The variable degree of con¬

fluence of the lobes is easily seen if the rostellar flap is lifted. In extreme

cases the stigmatic lobes are elongated so that the receptive surfaces

are held far to either side of the anther. Garay (1980) recently segre¬

gated into Apatostelis those species with a more or less confluent

stigma as well as some species with a transverse, bilobed stigma.

Since the species of the genus seem to be closely interrelated, I do not

believe that the genus should be divided at the subgeneric level, espe-

Lectotype: Humboldtia purpurea, Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. FI. Peruv.

Chil. 235, 1798. [Stelis purpurea (Ruiz & Pav.) Willd., Sp. PI.

4:140,1805] (Garay & Sweet, J. Arnold Arbor. 53:528,1972)

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Syn.: Stelis subgen. Inaequales Garay, Canad. J. Bot. 34:351,1956.

Type: Humboldtia purpurea Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. FI. Peruv. ChiL 235,1798.

Ety.: From the Latin inaequalis, “unequal,” referring to the unequal sizes of the dorsal

sepals and synsepal.

Syn.: Stelis sect. Valvae Garay, Canad. J. Bot. 34:351,1956.

Type: Humboldtia purpurea Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. FI. Peruv. Chil. 235,1798.

Ety.: From the Latin valvae, “valves,” referring to the bivalvate flowers.

Syn.: Steliopsis Brieg., Die Orchideen 457,1975, nom. invalid.

Type: Steliopsis anneliesae Brieg., Die Orchideen 457,1975. (syn. of S. maxima Lindl.)

Ety.: From the genus Stelis and the Greek -opsis, referring to the similarity of the

proposed genus to Stelis.

Syn.: Stelis subgen. Stelis sensu Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 27:180,1980, non sensu Garay,

Canad. J. Bot 34:350,1956.

Although the concave synsepal and lidlike dorsal sepal have deve¬

loped in a large number of species of the genus, the vegetative charac¬

ters, petals, lip and column are widely variable. Many, however, are

closely allied.

Stelis sect. Nexipous (Garay) Luer, stat. nov.

Type: Stelis nexipous Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 18:194,1958.

Ety.: From the Greek nexipous, “a foot for swimming,” referring to

the duckfoot-shaped petals.

Basionym: Stelis subgen. Nexipous Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 27:178,1980.

Type: Stelis nexipous Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 18:194,1958.

In this section the widely spread lateral sepals are deeply parted, but

deeply united to the dorsal sepals to form a more or less flat, fan-shaped

flower. These few Ecuadorian species are closely related to sect. Stelis.

Stelis sect. Stelis

Syn.: Stelis sect. Eustelis Lindl., Folia Orch. Stelis 2,1858, nom. invalid.

Type: Eptdendrum ophioglossoides Jacq., Enum. PI. Carib. 29,1760. [Stelis ophioglos-

soides (Jacq.) Sw„ J. Bot. (Schrader) 2:239,1799]

Ety.: From the Greek eu-, “true,” and the genus Stelis, indicating that the section

includes the true species.

Syn.: Stelis sect. Labiatae Lindl., Folia Orch. Stelis 2,1858.

Lectotype: Stelis brevilabris Lindl., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 1,5:107,1845. (Garay, Bot.

Mus. Leafl. 27:180,1980)

Ety.: From the Latin labiatus, “labiate,” possibly referring to the shorter lateral sepals.

Syn.: Stelis sect Trivalves Rchb.f., Ann. Bot. Syst. 6:199,1861, nomen.

Lectotype^Stc/is major Rchb.f, Bonplandia 2:23,1854. (Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 27:179,

Ety.: From the Latin trivalvis, “three-valved,” referring to the three sepals.

Syn.: Stelis sect Patuliflorae Barb. Rodr, Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:82,1882.

Lectotype here designated: Stelis megantha Barb. Rodr, Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:83,1882.

y ” iSoreL^" mtuliflorUS ' <lwith spread-out flowers,” referring to the

Syn u: Stelis sect. Distichae lindl. ex Cogn, FI. Bras. 3(4):343,1896.

Lec ^ rp i & EndL ’ N ° v ‘ Gen ' Sp> 1:47> 1836 - (Garay > 801 Mus -

Et, - : rows ■” referring *° arrang ™ ent ° f

Syn.: Stelis sect Polystachyae Lindl. ex Cogn. FI. Bras. 3(4):343 1896.

Lectotype here designated: Stelis hylophila Rchb.f, Bonplandia’3:241,1855.

tty., from the Greek polystachys, “with many spikes,” referring to the inflorescence.

ate 26. Stelis argentata Lindl.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Trichosalpinx Luer, Phytologia 54:393,1983.

Type: Specklinia ciliaris Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 24:Misc. 31,1838.

[Trichosalpinx ciliaris (lindl.) Luer, Phytologia 54:395,1983]

Ety.: From the Greek trichosalpinx , “a trumpet with hairs,” referring

to the ciliated ribs and margins of the cauline sheaths.

This genus consists of those numerous species of pleurothallids with

lepanthiform sheaths previously treated in Pleurothallis. It is as logical

to segregate them as it is to maintain Lepanthopsis separate from

Platystele.

Although closely related to Pleurothallis, as are some of the other

pleurothallid genera, the sheaths of the ramicauls immediately identify

these species. The lepanthiform sheaths are usually obvious, a conven¬

ient tool for recognition, but in some small species, the ramicaul may

be very shortened with only one, or barely two, loose sheaths with the

cellular appendages visible only with a hand lens. Two pollinia are

present.

Two distinct subgenera may be recognized, one with three sections.

KEY TO THE SUBGENERA AND SECTIONS OF TRICHOSALPINX

1 Plants usually stout with nonproliferating ramicauls; racemes

short; petals more or less ciliate or fimbriate; column elongate,

toothed at the apex.subgen. Trichosalpinx

V Plants usually slender, often with proliferating ramicauls;

racemes usually elongate; petals entire; column short or

elongate, more or less winged at the apex.(subgen. Tubella) 2

2 Inflorescence racemose, the flowers simultaneous or several

produced simultaneously; lip neither markedly callous nor

with basal lobes embracing the column. 2! sect Tubellae

2 Inflorescence 1-flowered, or racemose with the flowers

produced singly; lip callous or with basal lobes embracing the

column .3

3 Inflorescence racemose, the flowers produced successively; lip

callous, the base of the lip fixed to a rudimentary

column-foot. 7! sect. Pseudolepanthes

2 Inflorescence 1-flowered; lip with basal lobes embracing the

column with a rudimentary foot. T. sect. Apodae

Trichosalpinx subgen. Trichosalpinx

Type: Specklinia ciliaris Lindl.

Syn.: Pleurothallis sect. Brachystachyae subsect. Lepanthiformes Lindl., Folia Orch.

Pleuroth. 25,1859.

Lectotype here designated: Speklinia orbicularis Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28:Misc. 31,

1838 [ Trichosalpinx orbicularis (Lindl.) Luer, Phytologia 54:396,1983]

Ety.: From the genus Lepanthes Sw. and the Latin -formis, referring to the lepanthi-

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Syn.: Pleurothallis sect. Lepanthiformes (Lindl.) Cogn., FI. Bras. 3(4):591,1896.

Syn.: Pleurothallis sect. Bipaleolatae Pabst, Orch. Brasilienses 162,1975.

Type: Specklinia orbicularis lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28:Misc. 31,1838.

Ety.: From the Latin bipaleolatus, non-decipherable, but intended to refer to the basal

lobules of the lip.

The ramicauls of the species of this subgenus are usually stout and

nonproliferating. The racemes are usually shorter than the leaf; the

lateral sepals are commonly connate; the petals are usually ciliate or

fimbriate; the lip is more or less ligulate, callous at the base, and bilobu-

late at the membranous, basal hinge. Many of the lips are similar to

those of some species in Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia sect. Musco-

sae. The column is elongate, usually toothed at the apex, partially cov¬

ering the ventral anther. The column-foot is stout.

Trichosalpinx subgen. Tubella Luer, subgen. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis acremona Luer, Selbyana 5:157,1979 [Trichosal¬

pinx acremona (Luer) Luer, Phytologia 54:394,1983]

Ety.: From the Latin tubella , “a little tube,” referring to the cauline

sheaths.

Ramicaules saepe proliferantes. Racemi quam foliis plerumque longiores. Petala inte-

gra. Labellum integrum vel trilobatum. Columna brevis longave plus minusve alata.

The numerous species of this subgenus are usually slender, some¬

times proliferating. The racemes are commonly longer than the leaf;

the lateral sepals are usually free; the petals are usually entire; and the

lip is either simple or three-lobed without basal lobules. The column is

variable in length and the anther may be apical, subapical or ventral.

The stout column-foot may be very short or rudimentary. Three sec¬

tions may be recognized.

Trichosalpinx subgen. Tubella sect. Apodae Luer, sect. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis apoda Garay & Dunsterv., Venez. Orch. Ill. 3:246,

1965. [Trichosalpinx apoda (Garay & Dunsterv.) Luer, Phyto¬

logia 54:394, 1983]

Ety.: From the Greek apodion, “footless,” referring to the obsolescent

column-foot.

Inflorescentia uniflora. Lobi basalia labelli columnam teretem brevem amplectentes.

The solitary species that comprises this section is widespread in the

Andes, and apparently without close relatives. It may be distinguished

by the single-flowered inflorescence and a broad, obtuse, subcordate lip

with basal lobes embracing a short, terete column with an apical

anther, rostellum and stigma, and an obsolescent column-foot.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Plate 27. Trichosalpinx ciliaris (Lindl.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALLIDINARUM

Trichosalpinx subgen. Tubella sect. Pseudolepanthes Luer, sect,

nov.

Type: Trichosalpinx pseudolepanthes Luer & Escobar, Orquideologia

16:183,1984.

Ety.: From the Greek pseudo “false,” and the genus Lepanthes, re¬

ferring to similarity of the species to that genus.

Inflorescentia racemosa successiviflora. Labellum ligulatum callosum ad basim pedis

The habit of these unusual little species from the West Indies and the

Andes that comprise this section is similar to that typical of the genus

Lepanthes. The very small flowers are produced successively in a pro¬

gressively lengthening raceme. The ligulate, callous lip is inflexibly

adnate to an obsolescent column-foot. The column is short with an

apical anther and stigma.

A new combination needs to be made:

Trichosalpinx microlepanthes (Griseb.) Luer, comb. nov.

Basionym: Pleurothallis microlepanthes Griseb., FI. Brit. West Indes 610,1864.

Syn.: Lepanthopsis microlepanthes (Griseb.) Ames, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 1(9):24, 1933.

Lepanthes leonii C. Schweinf. in Leon, FI. Cuba 1:362,1946.

Trichosalpinx subgen. Tubella sect. Tubellae Luer, sect. nov.

Type: Pleurothallis acremona Luer, Selbyana 5:157,1979. [Trichosal¬

pinx acremona (Luer) Luer, Phytologia 54:394,1983]

Syn.: Pleurothallis sect. Elongatae subsect. Lepanthiformes Iindl., Folia Orch.

Pleuroth. 26,1859.

Lectotype here designated: Pleurothallis chamaelepanthes Rchb.f., Bonplandia 3:240,

im.[Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes (Rchb.f.) Luer, Phytologia 54:395,1983]

Syn.: Pleurothallis sect. Acuminatae subsect. Lepanthiformes Lindl., Folia Orch.

Pleuroth. 32,1859.

Lectotype here designated: Pleurothallis arbuscula Iindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28:Misc.

72,1842. [ Trichosalpinx arbuscula (Iindl.) Luer, Phytologia 54:394,1983]

Syn.: Lepanthes sect. Phyllocaulae Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:41,1882.

Lectotype here designated: Lepanthes carinifera Barb. Rodr. Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:69,

1882. [ Trichosalpinx carinifera (Barb. Rodr.) Luer, Phytologia 54:394,1983]

Ety.: From the Greek phyllon. “a leaf,” and the Latin caulis, “-stemmed,” referring to

the “leafy” stems.

Inflorescentia racemosa floribus coaetaneis. Labellum integrum trilobumve. Columna

elongata plus mmusve alata.

Except for the few species segregated into monotypic sections above,

all the other species of the subgenus may be grouped together in this

section.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALUDINAE

Trisetella Luer, Phytologia 47:57,1980.

Type: Masdevallia triaristella Rehb.f., Gard. Chron. 2:226, 1876.

[Trisetella triaristella (Rehb.f.) Luer, Phytologia 47:58,1980]

Ety.: From the Latin trisetus, “with three bristles,” plus the diminu¬

tive, referring to the hairlike tails of the sepals.

Syn.: Masdevallia sect. Triaristellae Rehb.f., Gard. Chron. 6:226,1876.

Type: Masdevallia triaristella Rehb.f., Gard. Chron. 2:226,1876.

Ety.: From the Latin triaristellus, “with three little awns,” referring to the tails of the

sepals.

Syn.: Triaristella Brieg., Die Orchideen 448,1975, nom. invalid.

Syn.: Triaristella Brieg. ex Luer, Selbyana 2:205, 1978, non Malyavkina 1949.

Type: Masdevallia triaristella Rehb.f., Gard. Chron. 6:226,1876.

Syn.: Triaristellina Rauschert, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 94:459,1983. nom. illeg.

Type: Masdevallia triaristella Rehb.f., Gard. Chron. 6:226,1876.

About 15 interrelated species from Central and South America are

included in this genus which originally had been treated as a section of

Masdevallia. The little, caespitose plants are similar vegetatively to

those seen in many other pleurothallid genera: narrowly elliptical

leaves borne by abbreviated ramicauls with an annulus. The inflores¬

cence is a succession of single flowers borne in a congested raceme atop

a slender peduncle which exceeds the leaves. The dorsal sepal and the

synsepal are variously caudate. The petals are small and membranous.

The simple, longitudinally callous lip is sagittate or cordate at the base,

the retrorse basal lobes projecting behind to either side of the central

hinge to the wedge-shaped column-foot. The column is elongate with a

hooded ventral anther with two pollinia, and a large ventral stigma.

Zootrophion Luer, Selbyana 7:80,1982.

Type: Specklinia atropurpurea Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 28:Misc.

81,1842. [Zootrophion atropurpureus (Lindl.) Luer, Selbyana,

7:80,1982]

Ety.: From the Greek zootrophion, “a menagerie,” referring to the

similarity of the flowers to the heads of different animals.

This genus was recently erected to accommodate those species resid¬

ing in Cryptophoranthus which were unrelated to Cryptophoranthus

fenestratus (Barb. Rodr.) Barb. Rodr., the latter the designated lecto-

type of the genus Cryptophoranthus. Those species related to C. fenes¬

tratus are now treated as a section of Pleurothallis subgen . Acianthera.

The 11 species of Zootrophion are distributed from Jamaica and Cen¬

tral America through the Andes. In most of the species the ramicaul is

well-developed and enclosed by a series of inflated, compressed

sheaths. The inflorescence arises from near the apex of the ramicaul

with an annulus. The sepals are connate at the apex to form rigid,

box-like flowers that resemble the heads of animals. A pair of “eyes”

are formed, one on each side of the flower. Connation or connivence of

the apices of the sepals has developed independently in several unre¬

lated species or groups of species in the Pleurothallidinae. The compar¬

atively small lip of Zootrophion is hinged to a stout column-foot. The

column is elongate and the toothed apex partially covers the ventral

anther. Two pollinia are present.

One new combination needs to be made:

Zootrophion schenckii (Cogn.) Luer, comb. nov.

Cryptophoranthus schenckii Cogn., Bull. Soc. Roy.

Bot. Belgique 43:304,1907.

ICONES PLEUROTHALLTOINAKUM

Plate 28. Trisetella pantex (Luer) Luer

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Plate 29. Zootrophion hypodiscus (Rchb.f.) Luer

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

GENERIC NAMES PUBLISHED IN THE PLEUROTHALUDINAE

Acianthera Scheidw., Allg. Gartenzeitung 10:292,1842.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Brachystachyae

Acostaea Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 19:283,1923.

Acronia Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1:103,1827.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Pleurothallis sect. Pleurothallis subsect. Acroniae

Anathallis Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:23,1877.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia sect. Acuminatae

Andreettaea Luer, Selbyana 2:183,1978.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Andreettaea

Apatostelis Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 27:185,1980.

= Stelis sect. Stelis

Aspegrenia Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 2:12,1836.

= Octomeria R.Br.

Barbosella Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 15:259,1918.

Barbrodria Luer, Selbyana 5:386,1981.

Brachionidium Lindl., Folia Orch. Brachionidium 1,1859.

Syn.: Yolanda Hoehne

Brenesia Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 19:200,1923.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Brachystachyae

Calyptrorchis Brieg., Die Orchideen 428,1975, nomen invalid.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia sect. Specklinia subsect. Specklinia

Centranthera Scheidw., Allg. Gartenzeitung 10:293,1842, non R.Br. 1810.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Brachystachyae

Chaetocephala Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:37,1882.

= Myoxanthus Poepp. & Endl.

Chamelophyton Garay, Orquideologia 9:115,1974.

Syn.: Garayella Brieg.

Cheiropterocephalus Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:28,1877.

= a genus in the Liparidinae

Colombiana Ospina, Orquideologia 8:230,1974.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Scopula

Condylago Luer, Orquideologia 15:117,1982.

Crocodeilanthe Rchb. f. & Warsc., Xenia Orchid. 1:10,1854.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Crocodeilanthe

Cryptophoranthus Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 2:79,1882.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Cryptophoranthae

Dialissa lindl., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 15:107,1845.

= Stelis sect. Dialissa

Dracula Luer, Selbyana 2:190,1978.

Dresslerella Luer, Selbyana 3:1,1976.

Dryadella Luer, Selbyana 2:207,1978.

Syn.: Trigonanthe (Schltr.) Brieg.

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Duboisia Karst., Allg. Gartenzeitung 15:394,1847, non R. Br. 1810.

= Myoxanthus Poepp. & Endl.

Dubois-Reymondia Karst., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 6:397,1848.

= Myoxanthus Poepp. & Endl.

Enothrea Raf., FI. Tellur. 4:43, 1836, nomen illeg.

= Octomeria R.Br.

Erectorostrata Brieg., Die Orchideen 428,1975, nomen invalid.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Pleurothallis sect. Macrophyllae-Fasciculatae

Frondaria Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 15:29,1986.

Garayella Brieg., Die Orchideen 425,1975, nomen invalid.

= Chamelophyton Garay

Geocalpa (Krzl.) Brieg., Die Orchideen 440,1975, nomen invalid.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Sarracenella Luer

Gigliolia Barb. Rodr., Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:25, July 1877, non Beccari.

May 1877.

= Octomeria R.Br.

Humboldtia Ruiz & Pav., FI. Peruv. Chil. Prodr. 121, t. 27,1794, nom.

conserv., non Vahl 1794, nom. rej.

= Stelis sect. Humboldtia

Kraenzlinella Kuntze, Lex. Gen. Phan. 310,1903.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Kraenzlinella

Lepanthes Sw., Nov. Act. Soc. Sri. Upsala 6:85,1799.

Lepanthopsis (Cogn.) Ames, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 1(9):3,1933.

Lothiania Krzl., Gard. Chron. ser. 3,75:173,1924.

= Porroglossum Schltr.

Luerella Braas, Die Orchidee 30:108,1979.

= Masdevallia subgen. Pelecaniceps

Masdevallia Ruiz & Pav., FI. Peruv. Chil. Prodr. 122,1794.

Syn.: Luerella Braas

Rodrigoa Braas

Myoxanthus Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 1:50,1836.

Syn.: Duboisia Karst.

Dubois-Reymondia Karst.

Chaetocephala Barb. Rodr.

Reymondia Karst, ex Kuntze

Octandrorchis Brieg., Die Orchideen 425,1975, nomen invalid.

= Octomeria R.Br.

Octomeria R.Br., in Aiton, Hort. Kew., ed. 2,5:211,1813.

Syn.: Aspegrenia Poepp. & Endl.

Enothrea Raf.

Gigliolia Barb. Rodr.

Octandrorchis Brieg.

Ophidion Luer, Selbyana 7:79,1982.

Orchidotypus Krzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 37:383,1906.

= a genus in the Pachyphyllinae

ICONES PLEUROTHALUDINARUM

Otopetalum Lehm. & Krzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 26:457,1899, non Miquel

1856.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Kraenzlinella

Pabstiella Brieg. & Sengh., Die Orchideen 429,1975, nomen invalid.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Mirabilia

Palmoglossum Kl. ex Rchb.f., Xenia Orchid. 1:174,1856, in synonymy.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia sect. Muscosae

Phloeophila Hoehne & Schltr., Arch. Bot. Sao Paulo 1:199,1926.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Acianthera sect. Phloeophilae

Physosiphon Lindl., Edward’s Bot. Reg. 21:sub 1.1797,1835.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Physosiphon

Physothallis Garay, Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 47:199,1953.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Physothallis

Pinelia Lindl., Folia Orchid. Pinelia 1,1853.

= a genus in the Laeliinae

Platystele Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8:565,1910.

Pleurobotryum Barb. Rodr. Gen. Sp. Orch. Nov. 1:20,1877.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Pleurobotryum

Pleurothallis R.Br., in Aiton, Hort. Kew., ed. 2,5:211,1813.

Syn.: Acianthera Scheidw.

Acronia Presl

Anathallis Barb. Rodr.

Andreettaea Luer

Brenesia Schltr.

Calyptrorchis Brieg.

Centranthera Scheidw.

Colombiana Ospina

Crocodeilanthe Rchb.f. & Warsc.

Cryptophoranthus Barb. Rodr.

Erectorostrata Brieg.

Geocalpa (Krzl.) Brieg.

Kraenzlinella Kuntze

Otopetalum Lehm. & Krzl.

Pabstiella Brieg. & Sengh.

Palmoglossum Kl. ex Rchb.f.

Phloeophila Hoehne & Schltr.

Physosiphon Lindl.

Physothallis Garay

Pleurobotryum Barb. Rodr.

Pseudoctomeria Krzl.

Pseudostelis Schltr.

Rhynchopera Kl.

Sarracenella Luer

Specklinia Lindl.

Talpinaria Karst.

Pleurothallopsis Porto & Brade, Arq. Inst. Biol. Veg. 3:133,1937.

Porroglossum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7:82,1920.

Syn.: Lothiania Krzl.

Pseudoctomeria Krzl., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 34:219,1925.

- Pleurothallis subgen. Pseudoctomeria

SYSTEMATICS OF THE PLEUROTALLIDINAE

Pseudostelis Schltr., Anexos Mem. Inst. Butantan, Secc. Bot. 1(4):36

1922.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Crocodeilanthe

Restrepia H.B.K.,Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 1:366,1816.

Restrepiella Garay & Dunsterv., Ven. Orch. HI. 4:266,1966.

Restrepiopsis Luer, Selbyana 2:199,1978.

Reymondia Karst, ex Kuntze, Lex. Gen. Phan. 481,1903.

= Myoxanthus Poepp. & Endl.

Rhynchopera Kl. in link, Klotzsch & Otto, Icon. PI. Rar. 2:103, t. 41,

1844.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Rhynchopera

Rodrigoa Braas, Die Orchidee 30:203,1979.

= Masdeuallia subgen. Meleagris

Salpistele Dressier, Orquideologia 14:6,1979.

Sarracenella Luer, Selbyana 5:388,1981.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Sarracenella

Scaphosepalum Pfitz., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 2(6): 139,1888.

Specklinia Iindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. PI. 8,1830.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Specklinia

Steliopsis Breig., Die Orchideen 457,1975, nomen invalid.

= Stelis sect. Humboldtia

Stelis Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 2(4):239, t. 2, fig. 3, a-g, 1799, nom. conserv.

Syn.: Apatostelis Garay

Dialissa Lindl.

Humboldtia Ruiz & Pav., non Vahl

Steliopsis Brieg.

Talpinaria Karst., FI. Columb. 1:153,1861.

= Pleurothallis subgen. Talpinaria

Triaristella Brieg., Die Orchideen 449,1976, nomen invalid.

Triaristella Brieg. ex Luer, Selbyana 2:205,1978, non V. S. Malyavkina

1949.

= Trisetella Luer

Triaristellina Rauschert, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 94:459, 1983,

nom. illeg.

= Trisetella Luer

Trichosalpinx Luer, Phytologia 54:393,1983.

Syn.: Lepanthes sensu Barb. Rodr.

Trigonanthe (Schltr.) Brieg., Die Orchideen 448,1975, nomen invalid.

= Dryadella Luer

Trisetella Luer, Phytologia 47:57,1980.

Syn.: Triaristella (Rchb.f.) Brieg. ex Luer

Triaristellina Rauschert

Yolanda Hoehne, Arq. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro 22:72,1919.

= Brachionidium Lindl.

Zootrophion Luer, Selbyana 7:80,1982.