Prosthechea
Prosthechea is a genus in the orchid family. The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke, referring to the appendage on the back of the column. Appendage orchid is a common name for this genus.
The genus Prosthechea has only recently been reestablished by W. E. Higgins as a distinct genus. Two species were later transferred to Euchile by Withner in 1998. The status of Euchile species as sister to Prosthechea excluding Euchile was confirmed by Higgins in his doctoral dissertation in 2000. Previously, the species had been included in different genera : Anacheilium, Encyclia, Epidendrum, Euchile, Hormidium and Pollardia. The status as genus was confirmed by recent data, based on molecular evidence and plastid
This a neotropical epiphytic genus, widespread across much of Latin America from Mexico to Paraguay, as well as in Florida and the West Indies.
The roots of all Prosthechea species possess a velamen differentiated into epivelamen and endovelamen. Flavonoid crystals were observed in both the roots and leaves. The erect stems form flattened or thickened pseudobulbs. There are 1 to 3 terminal, sessile leaves. The leathery blade is ovate to lanceolate.
The flowers form an apical, paniculate raceme with a spathe at the base of the inflorescence. There is a great variety in the flowers of this genus. They may be attached to the stem by a peduncle or may be sessile. They can flower on the raceme at the same time or successively. They can be resupinate or non-resupinate. Prosthechea flowers are unique among the Laeliinae in producing fluorescent flavenoid crystals when preserved in ethanol with 5% sodium hydroxide.
The sepals are almost equal in length, while the petals can be much slender. The lip is pressed closely to half of the column and shows a callus. The column is 3- to 5-toothed at its top.
There are four, almost equal pollinia with an inverted egg shape. There are four stalks in two pairs. The beak is entire, curved into a half circle and covered with viscous glycoside crystals.
The fruits consists of ellipse-shaped to egg-shaped, 1-locular, 3-winged capsules.
Species
- Prosthechea abbreviata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea aemula W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea alagoensis W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea allemanii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea allemanoides W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea aloisii Dodson & Hágsater.
- Prosthechea apuahuensis Van den Berg.
- Prosthechea arminii Withner & P.A.Harding.
- Prosthechea baculus W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea barbozae Pupulin.
- Prosthechea bennettii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea bicamerata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea boothiana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea brachiata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea brachychila W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea brassavolae W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea bulbosa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea caetensis W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea calamaria W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea campos-portoi W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea campylostalix W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea carrii V.P.Castro & Campacci.
- Prosthechea chacaoensis W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea chondylobulbon W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea christyana Garay & Withner.
- Prosthechea cochleata W.E.Higgins.
- * Prosthechea cochleata var. cochleata.
- * Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra Hágsater.
- Prosthechea concolor W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea cretacea W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea elisae Chiron & V.P.Castro.
- Prosthechea faresiana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea farfanii Christenson.
- Prosthechea fausta W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea favoris Salazar & Soto Arenas.
- Prosthechea fortunae W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea fragrans W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea garciana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea ghiesbreghtiana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea gilbertoi W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea glauca Knowles & Westc..
- Prosthechea glumacea W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea grammatoglossa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea greenwoodiana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea hajekii D.E.Benn. & Christenson.
- Prosthechea hartwegii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea hastata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea ionocentra W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea ionophlebia W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea jauana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea joaquingarciana Pupulin.
- Prosthechea kautzkii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea lambda W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea latro V.P.Castro & Chiron.
- Prosthechea leopardina Dodson & Hágsater.
- Prosthechea lindenii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea linkiana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea livida W.E.Higgins
- Prosthechea longipes Chiron
- Prosthechea maculosa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea magnispatha W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea megahybos Dodson & Hágsater.
- Prosthechea michuacana W.E.Higgins
- Prosthechea micropus W.E.Higgins
- Prosthechea moojenii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea mulasii Soto Arenas & L.Cerv..
- Prosthechea neglecta Pupulin.
- Prosthechea neurosa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea obpiribulbon W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea ochracea W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea ochrantha
- Prosthechea ortizii W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea pamplonensis W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea panthera W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea papilio W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea pastoris Espejo & López-Ferr..
- Prosthechea pringlei W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea prismatocarpa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea pterocarpa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea pulcherrima W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea pulchra Dodson & W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea punctifera W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea pygmaea W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea racemifera W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea radiata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea regnelliana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea rhombilabia W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea rhynchophora W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea sceptra W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea semiaptera W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea serrulata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea sessiliflora W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea silvana Cath. & V.P.Castro.
- Prosthechea sima W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea spondiada W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea suzanensis W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea tardiflora Mora-Ret. ex Pupulin.
- Prosthechea tigrina W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea tripunctata W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea trulla W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea vagans W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea varicosa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea vasquezii Christenson.
- Prosthechea venezuelana W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea vespa W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea vinacea Christenson.
- Prosthechea vitellina W.E.Higgins.
- Prosthechea widgrenii W.E.Higgins.
Gallery