Pseudolaelia

Pseudolaelia is a small genus belonging to the orchid family (Orchidaceae), the entire genus endemic to Brazil.[1] The abbreviation used in the horticultural trade is Pdla.

Pseudolaelia
Pseudolaelia corcovadensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Laeliinae
Genus: Pseudolaelia
Porto & Brade
Type species
Pseudolaelia corcovadensis
Porto & Brade
Synonyms[1]

Renata Ruschi

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:[1]

ImageNameDistributionElevation (m)
Pseudolaelia aromatica CampacciMinas Geraisaround 490 meters
Pseudolaelia ataleiensis CampacciMinas Geraisaround 280 meters
Pseudolaelia brejetubensis M.Frey Espírito Santo1100 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia calimaniorum V.P.Castro & ChironEspírito Santo1000 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia canaanensis (Ruschi) F.Barros Espírito Santo300 – 1000 meters
Pseudolaelia cipoensis Pabst Serra do Cipóaround 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia citrina Pabst Minas Gerais, Espírito Santoaround 1200 meters
Pseudolaelia corcovadensis Porto & Brade Rio de Janeiro500 – 900 meters
Pseudolaelia dutraei Ruschi Espírito Santo400 - 700 metrers
Pseudolaelia freyi Chiron & V.P.Castro Espírito Santo1100 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia geraensis Pabst Minas Gerais
Pseudolaelia irwiniana Pabst Serra do Espinhaçoaround 900 meters
Pseudolaelia maquijiensis M.Frey Espírito Santoaround 700 meters
Pseudolaelia oliveirana V.P.Castro & ChironEspírito Santo400 – 600 meters
Pseudolaelia pavopolitana M.Frey Espírito Santoaround 350 meters
Pseudolaelia pitengoensis CampacciMinas Geraisaround 600 meters
Pseudolaelia regentii V.P.Castro & MarçalBahia
Pseudolaelia vellozicola (Hoehne) Porto & Brade Bahia, Espírito Santo1000 – 1400 meters

Natural hybrids

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

References

  • Eduardo L. Borba; Pedro Ivo S. Braga (2003). "Reproductive biology of Pseudolaelia corcovadensis Porto & Brade (Orchidaceae): melittophyly and selfcompatibility in a basal Laeliinae". Revista Brasil. Bot. 26 (4): 541–549.

Books

  • Chiron, G.; Roquenant, C. (2000). Laelia et genres alliés. Brassavola, Cattleya, Pseudolaelia, Rhyncholaelia et Schomburgkia. (in French)
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