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Pseudolaelia

Genus of orchids


Summary

Genus of orchids

Pseudolaelia is a small genus belonging to the orchid family (Orchidaceae), the entire genus endemic to Brazil. The abbreviation used in the horticultural trade is Pdla.

Description

The flowers of these orchids resemble those of Laelia, but the main difference between these two genera lies in the vegetative part.

These orchids occur exclusively in Eastern Brazil, often as epiphytes. Some are lithophytes, forming a thicket on the rocks. Others, as Pseudolaelia vellozicola, are semi-epiphytes and can be found on mat-like communities of Vellozia bushes on inselbergs (dome-shaped granitic or gneissic rock outcrops) in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, requiring an adaptation to the extreme environmental conditions (dryness, isolation)

The rhizomes are extended. The pseudobulbs are fusiform, cylindrical to conical, carrying three to eight leaves. These are apical, deciduous, upright, leathery and pointy. The base of the leaves clasps the pseudobulb from the upper third till the apex.

The inflorescence is a long raceme, growing from the apex of the pseudobulb, with an undefined number of small white to pink flowers, opening in a consecutive manner clustered at the apex.

Pollination is performed by hummingbirds, butterflies, dipterids and hymenopterids. The flowers of Pseudolaelia corcovadensis, being self-compatible, are also pollinated by deceit by the bee Bombus (Fervidobombus) atratus by mimicking a generalized bee-attracting food-flower. However, these visits are rather rare

Species of ''Pseudolaelia''

Species accepted as of June 2014:

ImageNameDistributionElevation (m)
Pseudolaelia aromatica CampacciMinas Geraisaround 490 meters
Pseudolaelia ataleiensis CampacciMinas Geraisaround 280 meters
Pseudolaelia brejetubensis M.FreyEspírito Santo1100 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia calimaniorum V.P.Castro & ChironEspírito Santo1000 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia canaanensis (Ruschi) F.BarrosEspírito Santo300 – 1000 meters
Pseudolaelia cipoensis PabstSerra do Cipóaround 1400 meters
[[File:Pseudolaelia citrina - cropped.jpg120px]]Pseudolaelia citrina PabstMinas Gerais, Espírito Santoaround 1200 meters
[[File:Pseudolaelia corcovadensis.jpg120px]]Pseudolaelia corcovadensis Porto & BradeRio de Janeiro500 – 900 meters
Pseudolaelia dutraei RuschiEspírito Santo400 - 700 metrers
Pseudolaelia freyi Chiron & V.P.CastroEspírito Santo1100 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia geraensis PabstMinas Gerais
Pseudolaelia irwiniana PabstSerra do Espinhaçoaround 900 meters
Pseudolaelia maquijiensis M.FreyEspírito Santoaround 700 meters
Pseudolaelia oliveirana V.P.Castro & ChironEspírito Santo400 – 600 meters
Pseudolaelia pavopolitana M.FreyEspírito Santoaround 350 meters
Pseudolaelia pitengoensis CampacciMinas Geraisaround 600 meters
Pseudolaelia regentii V.P.Castro & MarçalBahia
Pseudolaelia vellozicola (Hoehne) Porto & BradeBahia, Espírito Santo1000 – 1400 meters

Natural hybrids

  • Pseudolaelia × perimii M.Frey - Espírito Santo (P. brejetubensis × P. freyi)

References

Books

  • (in French)

References

  1. [http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=166331 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]
Wikipedia Source

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