Quisqueya (orchid)

The genus Quisqueya of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) comprises four species, all of which occur in Hispaniola. The small, perennial plants grow as epiphytes or lithophytic.

Description

All species of this genus are evergreen, perennial herbaceous plants. From a rhizome spring from thick, fleshy roots that develop with age characteristic wrinkles. The non-thickened shoots carry one to four leaves and the terminal inflorescence. The leaves are narrow - lanceolate and leathery. The inflorescence bears from one to eight flowers. The color is generally pink, the lip is stronger in color than the other five, narrow petals, which often tend to greenish or brown. The column is adherent to the lip at the bottom and forms a tubular nectary. The lip is three-lobed, the side lobes are spread out flat. In the center of the lip a different color callus is located. Lip and callus can be slightly hairy. There are eight pollinia available in four pairs, one pair large and a pair of small on each side of the column (similar to Tetra Micra ). In Quisqueya karstii a third, even smaller pair of pollinia is occasionally observed.

Dissemination

The species colonize each small, separate areas on the island of Hispaniola. Three of the species occur in the southwest of the island Quisqueya rosea inhabited the Cordillera Central. While Quisqueya karstii grows in sparse karst forests in about 300 meters above sea level, are the other species in upland forests, 1400 to 1900 meters above sea level, is home.

Due to deforestation the habitat of all species is endangered.

Systematics and Botanical History

The genus Quisqueya is classified in the subtribes Laeliinae. There she is part of the so-called Broughtonia group, which also includes the genera still Psychilis and Tetra Micra. The demarcation between Quisqueya and the last two genera is not yet well studied.

Plants of Quisqueya rosea were described roseum of Evil 1913 as Epidendrum, passed down through the genera Cattleyopsis and Broughtonia until Donald Dod 1979 after field studies on Hispaniola, Quisqueya aufstellte genus and three new species described. The name is derived from a name of the native Indians for the island of Hispaniola. Type species for the genus is Quisqueya karstii.

Species

• Quisqueya ekmanii - Terrestrial or growing on rocks, shoots to twelve, leaves another 15 inches long. The inflorescence with up to eight flowers reached 30 centimeters in length. All flower parts strong pink, yellow callus. Native to the Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic.
• Quisqueya rosea - Grows epiphytes on the trunk or on the lower branches of small trees in the Cordillera Central. Shoots to seven, leaves to twelve inches long and only eight millimeters wide. The inflorescences with one to three flowers reach ten to 15 centimeters in length. Pink tepals greenish or brownish, light pink lip with white, dark pink bound edge callus. The extensive synonyms see van den Berg.
• Quisqueya holdridgei - In appearance similar to Quisqueya rosea, leaves to 17 inches long with only seven millimeters wide. The lip is light pink to white, callus yellow with a dark pink spot in the middle of the lip. Native to the Sierra de Bahoruco.
• Quisqueya karstii - The type species grow as epiphytes in karst forests in the region " The Haitises ". At about ten centimeters long shoots are 14 inches long and eight millimeters broad leaves. The flowers are the largest of the genus, the tepals crowded greenish and brown, the lip pale pink to white. The callus is dark pink.