Gomphichis
Gomphichis viscosa fig. II
Gomphichis is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It consists of 24 species of herbaceous plants that are native to South and Central America.
Description
The species of the genus are terrestrial Gomphichis growing, rarely epiphytic, horstige plants. The side by side springing roots are fleshy and hairy. The leaves are in a basal rosette, rarely distributed on the shoot. They are narrow oval to lanceolate, pointed ending, fleshy.
The racemose, Vielblütige inflorescence is terminal, erect. The inflorescence axis is hairy and surrounded by bracts. The bracts are about as long as the flowers. The flowers are rather small, fleshy, they are usually close to each other and appear 'upside. The ovary is sessile. Both the ovary, as well as the petals are usually hairy. The three sepals are shaped approximately equal to each other, only slightly apart gaping, free. The lateral petals about the same sepals, also they are not fused. The lip is meatier than the other petals, nailed short, rinnig, the column comprehensively. The column is club-shaped and S-shaped curved, hairy. At the top of the column sits a large, transverse to the column axis, surrounded by a raised edge scar. The rostellum between stigma and stamen is thin, also transverse to the column axis, dull to cut off ending, connected to the sides of the Klinandriums. The stamen is small, the chambers are parallel. The two pollinia consist of crumbly pieces. The pollinia adhere to a common small round adhesive wafer ( Viscidium ).
Occurrence
Gomphichis comes in western South America, mainly in the Andes, as well as in Costa Rica before. The genus inhabited altitudes 1700-3600 meters. The locations are alpine grasslands, forest edges and damp forests.
Systematics and botanical history
The genus Gomphichis was erected in 1840 by Lindley. The name derives from the Greek γόμφος gomphos for " nail " or " leg " and refers either to the shape of the column or on the glandular hairs on the flowers. Type species is Gomphichis goodyeroides.
Gomphichis is classified within the tribe Cranichideae in the subtribe Cranichidinae. Closely related is the genus Aa and Porphyrostachys pilifera. There are 24 known species:
- Gomphichis adnata ( Ridl. ) Schltr.
- Gomphichis alba F.Lehm. & Kraenzl.
- Gomphichis altissima Renz
- Gomphichis bogotensis Renz
- Gomphichis brachystachys Schltr.
- Gomphichis caucana Schltr.
- Gomphichis cladotricha Renz
- Gomphichis crassilabia Garay
- Gomphichis cundinamarcae Renz
- Gomphichis goodyeroides Lindl.
- Gomphichis gracilis Schltr.
- Gomphichis hetaerioides Schltr.
- Gomphichis koehleri Schltr.
- Gomphichis lancipetala Schltr.
- Gomphichis longifolia ( Rolfe ) Schltr.
- Gomphichis longiscapa ( Kraenzl. ) Schltr.
- Gomphichis macbridei C.Schweinf.
- Gomphichis plantaginea Schltr.
- Gomphichis plantaginifolia C.Schweinf.
- Gomphichis scaposa Schltr.
- Gomphichis steyermarkii Foldats
- Gomphichis traceyae Rolfe
- Gomphichis valida Rchb.f.
- Gomphichis viscosa ( Rchb.f. ) Schltr.