Monographs Details:
Authority:
Ackerman, James D. 1995. An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 73: 1-203.
Ackerman, James D. 1995. An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 73: 1-203.
Family:
Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
Description:
Genus Description - Plants sympodial, terrestrial, lithophytic or epiphytic, caespitose. Roots fleshy, numerous, velamentous. Stems clustered, slender. Leaves articulate, several to many, plicate, sessile, sheathed. Inflorescences terminal, capitate or elongate racemes, several- to many-flowered, distichous or spirally arranged. Flowers resupinate. Sepals and petals free, subsimilar. Lip enclosing column, basally concave to saccate; callosities 2, basal. Column erect, footless, winged; stigma entire; anther terminal, operculate, incumbent; pollinia 8, hard, waxy. Fruit a capsule.
Genus Description - Plants sympodial, terrestrial, lithophytic or epiphytic, caespitose. Roots fleshy, numerous, velamentous. Stems clustered, slender. Leaves articulate, several to many, plicate, sessile, sheathed. Inflorescences terminal, capitate or elongate racemes, several- to many-flowered, distichous or spirally arranged. Flowers resupinate. Sepals and petals free, subsimilar. Lip enclosing column, basally concave to saccate; callosities 2, basal. Column erect, footless, winged; stigma entire; anther terminal, operculate, incumbent; pollinia 8, hard, waxy. Fruit a capsule.
Discussion:
Elleanthus C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 97. 1827. Type species. Elleanthus lancifolius C. Presl of Central America. A neotropical genus of about 50 species. The generic name refers to Helle or Helena, daughter of Athamar and Nephrele, heroine of Hellespont in Greek mythology. Special Literature. Lojtnant, 1976.
Elleanthus C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 97. 1827. Type species. Elleanthus lancifolius C. Presl of Central America. A neotropical genus of about 50 species. The generic name refers to Helle or Helena, daughter of Athamar and Nephrele, heroine of Hellespont in Greek mythology. Special Literature. Lojtnant, 1976.