Odontoglossum

The genus Odontoglossum was until 2012 a generic name for a variety of originating from South America, epiphytic orchids. The genus name is currently a synonym for the genus Oncidium, was merged with the Odontoglossum.

Dissemination

One finds the species at altitudes between 1500 m and 3000 m in South America. The distribution area extends from Guyana and Venezuela in the north- east along the Andes, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia to Peru.

Systematics and botanical history

The genus Odontoglossum was first described in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth. The name comes from the Greek words odontus, "tooth", and glossa, "tongue", together. Type species is Odontoglossum epidendroides. Subsequently, numerous, sometimes very different ways has been described as Odontoglossum, so that the genus had more than 400 species. In the following years, some genera were separated, for example Rossioglossum. 2012, the genus was revised on the basis of DNA analysis and is now a synonym for the genus Oncidium.