Oestlundia is a validly published genus of orchid

Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...

 within the subtribe Laeliinae

Laeliinae

Laeliinae is a Neotropical subtribe including 40 orchid genera, such as Brassavola, Laelia, Sophronitis, and Cattleya. The genus Epidendrum is the largest within this subtribe, containing about 1500 species...

. Its component species are found from Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 to Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

.

Taxonomic history

Encyclia sect. Oestlundia was published in 1971 by Dressler

Dressler

Dressler may refer to:* Anton Dressler , clarinetist* Conrad Dressler , sculptor and potter* Erich Dressler, luger* Gallus Dressler , composer and music theorist* Marie Dressler , actress...

 and Pollard

Pollard

Pollard may refer to:*Pollard , a list of people named "Pollard"*Pollard, Alabama, a town in the United States*Pollard, a novel by Laura Beatty*Pollard, a tree or animal which has been polled :...

, before the genus Encyclia

Encyclia

Encyclia is a genus of orchids. The genus name comes from Greek enkykleomai , referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is E....

was accepted. In 2001, Higgens removed this taxon from the genus Epidendrum

Epidendrum

Epidendrum , abbreviated Epi in horticultural trade, is a large neotropical genus of the orchid family. With more than 1,100 species, some authors describe it as a mega-genus. The genus name refers to its epiphytic growth habit...

and elevated it to generic rank, removing E. subulatifolium in the process.

Acceptance

On October 28, 2009, the World Checklist (WCSP) stated that this name was accepted, the World Checklist also states that the independence of this genus is accepted in Epidendroideae (Part One). Genera Orchidacearum 4 (2001).

Species (and synonymy)

The World Checklist lists four species, all published together with the genus:

• Oestlundia cyanocolumna = Epidendrum cyanocolumna or Encyclia cyanocolumna
• Oestlundia distantiflora = Epidendrum distantiflorum or Encyclia distantiflora
• Oestlundia luteorosea = Epidenrum luteoroseum, Encyclia luteorosea, Epidendrum lineare Ruiz
  Ruiz
  Ruiz is a Hispanic surname meaning "son of Ruy". It refers to:*Persons**Adolfo Ruiz Cortines , President of Mexico 1952-1958.**Alejandro R. Ruiz, U.S...
  
   & Pav. (1798) nom. illeg., Encyclia linearis, or Epidendrum seriatum
• Oestlundia tenuissima = Epidenrum tenuissimum or Encyclia tenuissima

External links

• Pictures of Oestlundia cyanocolumna can be found at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/713395864/ and at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/2636090301/in/set-72157605941489835/

• A picture of Oestlundia luteorosea can be found at http://www.orchidstudium.com/Estrangeiras/Oestlundia.html