Sobralia

This article is about the genus. For the city in Minas Gerais, see Sobrália.
Sobralia
Sobralia macrantha
1847 illustration[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Arethuseae
Subtribe: Sobraliinae
Genus: Sobralia
Ruiz & Pav., 1794
Type species
Sobralia dichotoma
Ruiz & Pav., 1798
Species

See Species section.

Synonyms[2]
  • Cyathoglottis Poepp. & Endl.
  • Fregea Rchb.f.
  • Lindsayella Ames & C.Schweinf.

Sobralia is a genus of about 125 orchids (family Orchidaceae) and one of the two genera of the subtribe Sobraliinae (the other is Elleanthus).

It is native to Mexico, Central and South America.[2][3] The plants are more commonly terrestrial, but are also found growing epiphytically, in wet forests from sea level to about 8,800 ft. The genus was named for Dr. Francisco Sobral, a Spanish botanist. The genus is abbreviated Sob in trade journals.

Their reed-like stems range in height from about 1 ft (33 cm) (such as in Sobralia galeottiana) to 25–30 ft. (10 m) They have typically heavily veined, bilobed, plicate, apical leaves all along the stem. The inflorescences on the apex of the stem carry one or two successive ephemeral flowers with large sepals and petals. The short duration of the flower is caused by a self-digesting enzyme. The lip is entire or lobed and clasps the column at its base. This columns carries eight soft pollinia. These flowers range in color from pure white to yellow, green, pink, purple, red, brown, and even a blue violet.[4]

Species

A few more commonly cited species:

Others:

References

  1. ↑ Charles Morren (editor) - Annales de la Société royale d’Agriculture et de Botanique de Gand, Journal d’horticulture by Charles Morren (editor). Gent, Local de la Société (Casino), etc.
  2. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ↑ Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.C. & Rasmussen, F.N. (2006). Epidendroideae (Part One). Genera Orchidacearum 4: 601 ff. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  4. ↑ Ortiz, V. P. 2004. - Las especies Colombianas de Sobralia Ruiz & Pav., seccion Sobralia. The Colombian species of Sobralia Ruiz & Pav., section Sobralia. Orquideologia 23(1): 49-65
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