Pterichis

Pterichis is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It consists of 20 species of herbaceous plants that are native to South and Central America.

Description

The species of the genus are terrestrial Pterichis growing, horstige plants. The roots are fleshy. The one or two basal leaves are oval to lanceolate. In its heyday, they are wilted.

The racemose inflorescence arises from the side of the leaves. The peduncle is long, stiff and hairy, he is busy with some bracts. The flowers appear 'upside. The ovary is sessile or petiolate and hairy. The sepals are equal, fleshy, along inclined free or the lateral basal adherent something together. The petals are free to spread or with the tip of the dorsal sepal fitting. The lip is fleshy, slightly heart-shaped, sitting, bent up the sides and fully occupied the column with different types of papillae on the edge. The column is short, laterally winged. The scar consists of a, according to Garay from two separate areas. The scar is located anteriorly ( in the non- resupinierten bloom so directed upwards ) and is slightly raised, flat or depressed. The stamen is small and straight, with parallel chambers, it is located dorsal to the column. The four pollinia are club-shaped, of granular texture, they depend on a small, round viscid disc ( Viscidium ). The stamen is covered almost completely hood -like tissue of the column ( Klinandrium ) whose edges are curled. The separation layers between stamen and stigma ( rostellum ) sits at the end of the column and is straight and narrow.

Occurrence

Pterichis occurs mainly in the Andes. The distribution area extends from Costa Rica and Panama in the north to Argentina in the south. Pterichis proctori occurs in Jamaica. The species occur at altitudes 2900-4300 meters. They colonize moist grasslands and bushes.

Systematics and botanical history

The genus Pterichis was erected in 1840 by Lindley. The name derives from the Greek πτερόν pteron for "Wings " and refers to the broad lip. Type species is Pterichis galeata.

Pterichis is classified within the tribe Cranichideae in the subtribe Cranichidinae. Related genera are Baskervilla, Cranichis, Ponthieva and Prescottia. There are 20 known species:

• Pterichis acuminata Schltr.
• Pterichis bangii Rolfe
• Pterichis boliviana Schltr.
• Pterichis colombiana G.Morales
• Pterichis fernandezii G.Morales
• Pterichis galeata Lindl.
• Pterichis habenarioides ( F.Lehm. & Kraenzl. ) Schltr.
• Pterichis latifolia Garay & Dunst.
• Pterichis leucoptera Schltr.
• Pterichis macroptera Schltr.
• Pterichis mandonii ( Rchb.f. ) Rolfe
• Pterichis multiflora ( Lindl. ) Schltr.
• Pterichis parvifolia ( Lindl. ) Schltr.
• Pterichis pauciflora Schltr.
• Pterichis proctori Garay
• Pterichis saxicola Schltr.
• Pterichis silvestris Schltr.
• Pterichis triloba ( Lindl. ) Schltr.
• Pterichis weberbaueriana Kraenzl.
• Pterichis yungasensis Schltr.