Kefersteinia (plant)

Kefersteinia is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It has about 40-50 species, widespread across much of Latin America.[2] The genus was named for Keferstein of Kröllwitz, an orchidologist.[3]

Kefersteinia
Kefersteinia graminea
1858 illustration[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Subtribe: Zygopetalinae
Genus: Kefersteinia
Rchb.f.
Synonyms[2]

Senghasia Szlach.

Description

Plants of the genus are small sympodial orchids closely related to Chondrorhyncha, growing 12–20 cm (4.7–7.9 in) tall.[4] Orchids have a long or short rhizome and lack pseudobulbs. Linear to lanceolate leaves form a fan shape, articulated to a sheath at their base. Single flowered inflorescences rise from the base or between leaves, often multiple at a time. Flowers are thin and translucent, with similar petals and sepals. The lip is broad and articulated to the column foot. The column is stout and keeled on the underside. Flowers have four pollinia.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Most species grow in the Andes mountains of Colombia and Ecuador, in shady, humid conditions. Most are epiphytic though some grow terrestrially in humus or moss.[5]

Ecology

Most flowers of the genus are pollinated by euglossine bees attracted by the flowers' fragrance. The hump of the lip forces bees to enter the flower from the side and pollinia are attached to the base of the bee's antennae.[6]

See also

References
  1. Walter Hood Fitch (1817-1892) del. et lith. Description by William Jackson Hooker (1785—1865) - "Curtis's Botanical Magazine" vol. 84 (Ser. 3 no. 14) pl. 5046
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. Mark W. Chase; Maarten J. M. Christenhusz; Tom Mirenda (2018). The Book of Orchids: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species from around the World. University of Chicago Press. p. 383. ISBN 9780226224664.
  4. Rebecca Tyson Northen (1996). Miniature Orchids and How to Grow Them (illustrated, reprint ed.). Courier Corporation. p. 89. ISBN 9780486289205.
  5. I. F. La Croix (2008). The New Encyclopedia of Orchids: 1500 Species in Cultivation (illustrated ed.). Timber Press. pp. 234–235. ISBN 9780881928761.
  6. Joe E. Meisel; Ronald S. Kaufmann; Franco Pupulin (2014). Orchids of Tropical America: An Introduction and Guide. Cornell University Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780801454929.
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