Prosthechea is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae

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,...

). The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke (appendix), referring to the appendage on the back of the column

Column (botany)

The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....

.

The genus Prosthechea has only recently (1997; published in 1998) been reestablished by W. E. Higgins as a distinct genus (see references). Two species were later transferred to Euchile (E. citrina and E. mariae) by Withner in 1998. The status of Euchile species as sister to Prosthechea excluding Euchile was confirmed by Higgins in his doctoral dissertation in 2000. Previously, the species had been included in different genera : Anacheilium, 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....

, 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...

, Euchile, Hormidium

Hormidium

The taxonomic concept "Hormidium" has been published numerous times with the same meaning but with different taxonomic ranks: as a genus by Bentham & Hooker, as a subgenus of Epidendrum by Reichenbach, and as a section of Epidendrum by Lindley...

and Pollardia. The status as genus was confirmed by recent data, based on molecular evidence (nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (matK and trnL-F) DNA sequence data) (W. E. Higgins et al. 2003)

This a neotropical epiphytic

Epiphyte

An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...

 genus, occurring from Florida and Mexico to tropical America.

The root

Root

In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...

s of all Prosthechea species possess a velamen

Velamen

Velamen is a spongy, multiple epidermis that covers the roots of some epiphytic or semi-epiphytic plants, such as orchid and Clivia species....

 (a thick sponge-like covering) differentiated into epivelamen and endovelamen. Flavonoid

Flavonoid

Flavonoids , are a class of plant secondary metabolites....

 crystals were observed in both the roots and leaves. The erect stem

Plant stem

A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...

s form flattened or thickened pseudobulb

Pseudobulb

The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...

s. There are 1 to 3 terminal, sessile leaves

Leaf

A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....

. The leathery blade is ovate to lanceolate. (Euchile leaves are softer and thinner than other Prosthechea leaves.)

The flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...

s form an apical, paniculate raceme

Raceme

A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...

 with a spathe at the base of the inflorescence . There is a great variety in the flowers of this genus. They may be attached to the stem by a peduncle or may be sessile. They can flower on the raceme at the same time or successively. They can be resupinate or non-resupinate (as in Prosthechea cochleata). Prosthechea flowers are unique among the 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...

 in producing fluorescent flavenoid crystals when preserved in ethanol

Ethanol

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...

 with 5% sodium hydroxide.

The sepal

Sepal

A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...

s are almost equal in length, while the petal

Petal

Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...

s can be much slender. The lip

Labellum

Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...

 is pressed closely (adnate to proximal) to half of the column

Column (botany)

The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....

 and shows a callus

Callus

A callus is an especially toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Rubbing that is too frequent or forceful will cause blisters rather than allow calluses to form. Since repeated contact is required, calluses...

 (a stiff protuberance). The column is 3- to 5-toothed at its top.

There are four, almost equal pollinia

Pollinium

Pollinium, or plural pollinia, is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant.They are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkweeds .Most orchids have waxy pollinia...

 with an inverted egg shape. There are four stalks (or caudicles) in two pairs. The beak

Rostellum

The rostellum is a projecting part of the column in Orchidaceae flowers, and separates the male stamen from the female gynoecium, commonly preventing self-fertilisation...

 is entire, curved into a half circle and covered with viscous glycoside

Glycoside

In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to a non-carbohydrate moiety, usually a small organic molecule. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. These can be activated by enzyme...

 crystals.

The fruit

Fruit

In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...

s consists of ellipse-shaped to egg-shaped, 1-locular, 3-winged capsules.

Species

• Prosthechea abbreviata (Schltr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea aemula (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea alagoensis (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea allemanii (Barb.Rodr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea allemanoides (Hoehne) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea aloisii (Schltr.) Dodson & Hágsater (1999).
• Prosthechea apuahuensis (Mansf.) Van den Berg (2001).
• Prosthechea arminii (Rchb.f.) Withner & P.A.Harding (2004).
• Prosthechea baculus (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea barbozae Pupulin (2004).
• Prosthechea bennettii (Christenson) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea bicamerata (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea boothiana (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea brachiata (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea brachychila (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea brassavolae (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea bulbosa (Vell.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea caetensis (Bicalho) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea calamaria (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea campos-portoi (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea campylostalix (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea carrii V.P.Castro & Campacci (2001).
• Prosthechea chacaoensis (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea chondylobulbon (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea christyana (Rchb.f.) Garay & Withner (2001).
• Prosthechea cochleata
  Prosthechea cochleata
  Prosthechea cochleata, formerly known as Encyclia cochleata, Anacheilium cochleatum, and Epidendrum cochleatum and commonly referred to as the Cockleshell Orchid or Clamshell Orchid, is an epiphytic, sympodial New World orchid native to Central America, the West Indies, Colombia, Venezuela, and...
  
  (L.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
  • Prosthechea cochleata var. cochleata.
  • Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra (Ames) Hágsater (2002).
• Prosthechea concolor (Lex.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea cretacea (Dressler & G.E.Pollard) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea elisae Chiron & V.P.Castro (2003).
• Prosthechea faresiana (Bicalho) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea farfanii Christenson (2002).
• Prosthechea fausta (Rchb.f. ex Cogn.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea favoris (Rchb.f.) Salazar & Soto Arenas (2001).
• Prosthechea fortunae (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea fragrans (Sw.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).

• Prosthechea garciana (Garay & Dunst.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea ghiesbreghtiana (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea gilbertoi (Garay) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea glauca Knowles & Westc. (1838).
• Prosthechea glumacea (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea grammatoglossa (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea greenwoodiana (Aguirre-Olav.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea hajekii D.E.Benn. & Christenson (2001).
• Prosthechea hartwegii (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea hastata (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea ionocentra (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea ionophlebia (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea jauana (Carnevali & I.Ramírez) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea joaquingarciana Pupulin (2001).
• Prosthechea kautzkii (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea lambda (Linden ex Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea latro (Rchb.f. ex Cogn.) V.P.Castro & Chiron (2003).
• Prosthechea leopardina (Rchb.f.) Dodson & Hágsater (1999).
• Prosthechea lindenii (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea linkiana (Klotzsch) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea livida (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998)
• Prosthechea longipes (Rchb.f.) Chiron (2005)
• Prosthechea maculosa (Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea magnispatha (Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea megahybos (Schltr.) Dodson & Hágsater (1999).
• Prosthechea michuacana (Lex.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998)
• Prosthechea micropus (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (2005)
• Prosthechea moojenii (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea mulasii Soto Arenas & L.Cerv. (2002 publ. 2003).
• Prosthechea neglecta Pupulin (2001).
• Prosthechea neurosa (Ames) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea obpiribulbon (Hágsater) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea ochracea (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea ochrantha (A.Rich.) (ined.)
• Prosthechea ortizii (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea pamplonensis (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea panthera (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea papilio (Vell.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea pastoris (Lex.) Espejo & López-Ferr. (2000).
• Prosthechea pringlei (Rolfe) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea prismatocarpa (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea pterocarpa (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea pulcherrima (Klotzsch) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea pulchra Dodson & W.E.Higgins (2001).
• Prosthechea punctifera (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea pygmaea (Hook.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea racemifera (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea radiata (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea regnelliana (Hoehne & Schltr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea rhombilabia (S.Rosillo) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea rhynchophora (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea sceptra (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea semiaptera (Hágsater) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea serrulata (Sw.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea sessiliflora (Edwall) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea silvana Cath. & V.P.Castro (2003).
• Prosthechea sima (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea spondiada (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea suzanensis (Hoehne) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea tardiflora Mora-Ret. ex Pupulin (2001).
• Prosthechea tigrina (Linden ex Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea tripunctata (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea trulla (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea vagans (Ames) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea varicosa (Bateman ex Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea vasquezii Christenson (2003).
• Prosthechea venezuelana (Schltr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea vespa (Vell.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea vinacea Christenson (2003).
• Prosthechea vitellina (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).
• Prosthechea widgrenii (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998).