Restrepia

Restrepia, abbreviated Rstp in horticultural trade, is a small genus of 49 orchids in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), closely related to Pleurothallis. Named in honor of Don Jose Restrepo, it tends to be more showy than most other Pleurothallids. They are found primarily at higher altitudes in the cool, damp montane forests of the Andes and Venezuela, with some into Central America up to southern Mexico.[1][2]

Restrepia
Antennae-carrying Restrepia
(Restrepia antennifera)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Pleurothallidinae
Genus: Restrepia
Kunth (1816)
Type species
Restrepia antennifera
Kunth in F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth

Description

These tiny epiphytic and rarely lithophytic orchids lack pseudobulbs. The erect, thick, leathery leaf is elliptic-ovate in shape. The aerial roots seem like fine hairs.[3]

The flowers develop one at a time at the base of the leaf. They are borne on a slender peduncle, originating from the base of the back of the leaf. The long dorsal sepal is erect and ends in a somewhat thicker club-shaped tip. They have fused lateral sepals (synsepals) which may be quite colorful : white, yellow, rose, purple, orange or tan with red, brown or purple overlaid frequently with contrasting reddish-purple spots or stripes. The long, lateral petals equally end in a thickened club-shaped tip. The long lip is ovoid and widest its apex. It shows the same variations in color and markings.[3]

They are generally of tufted habit and white sheathed stems with fine papery bracts. Under the right conditions, they can be in flower all year long. They propagate by spreading and forming new plantlets, called keikis, from the base of mature leaves.[3]

Several species, such as Restrepia muscifera, are very variable in size, shape and color. No two populations are the same.

Species

Three subgenera are recognized.

Elegant restrepia
(Restrepia elegans)
Hairy tongued restrepia
(Restrepia trichoglossa)
  • Restrepia antennifera
  • Restrepia aristulifera
  • Restrepia aspasicensium
  • Restrepia brachypus
  • Restrepia contorta
  • Restrepia cuprea
  • Restrepia dodsonii
  • Restrepia elegans
  • Restrepia falkenbergii
  • Restrepia flosculata
  • Restrepia guttulata
  • [Restrepia iris
  • Restrepia lansbergii
  • Restrepia muscifera
  • Restrepia nittiorhyncha
  • Restrepia pandurata
  • Restrepia roseola
  • Restrepia sanguinea
  • Restrepia teaguei
  • Restrepia trichoglossa
  • Restrepia wageneri

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.C. & Rasmussen, F.N. (2006). Epidendroideae (Part One). Genera Orchidacearum 4: 1-672. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  3. Luer, C.A. (1996). Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIII - Systematics of Restrepia. Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri; 168 p, 16 color plates, 63 line drawings; ISBN 0-915279-39-8
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