Dendrophylax

Reichenbach f. in W. G. Walpers and K. Müller berol.

in W. G. Walpers and K. Müller berol., Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 903. 1864.

Etymology: Greek dendro, tree, and phylax, epiphyte or guardian, in reference to the epiphytic habit
Synonyms: Polyradicion Garay Polyrrhiza Pfitzer
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 620. Mentioned on page 494, 621.
Revision as of 20:46, 16 December 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Herbs epiphytic, monopodial. Roots velamentous, fleshy, glabrous. Stems very short. Leaves early deciduous, conduplicate, articulate, sessile, minute. Inflorescences axillary, 1–10-flowered racemes; peduncle slender. Flowers resupinate, large; sepals and petals similar, spreading, distinct and free, lanceolate; lip free, 3-lobed, small to very large, lateral lobes relatively short, middle lobe entire or deeply lobed, basal spur elongate; column very short, without foot; clinandrium prominent, truncate; anthers terminal, incumbent, operculate; pollinia 2, globose, waxy, hard, attached to single or separate stipes; stigma entire; rostellum deeply notched; ovary pedicellate. Fruits capsules, narrowly cylindric, ribbed.

Distribution

s Fla., West Indies.

Discussion

Species 10 (1 in the flora).

The Florida representative of Dendrophylax has been variously placed in Polyrrhiza Pfitzer (D. S. Correll 1950; C. A. Luer 1972) or Polyradicion Garay (L. A. Garay 1969). The type of Polyrrhiza is the Jamaican P. funalis (Swartz) Pfitzer, which is regarded as a Dendrophylax (W. Fawcett and A. E. Rendle 1910–1936, vol. 1; C. D. Adams 1972). Garay proposed Polyradicion to accommodate P. lindenii and another species. Recent research by M. Whitten (pers. comm.) on the molecular systematics of neotropical angraecoid taxa has shown that Polyradicion is phylogenetically embedded in Dendrophylax. Consequently, both Polyrrhiza and Polyradicion are best treated as synonyms of Dendrophylax.

Selected References

None.

... more about "Dendrophylax"
James D. Ackerman +
Reichenbach f. in W. G. Walpers and K. Müller berol. +
s Fla. +  and West Indies. +
Greek dendro, tree, and phylax, epiphyte or guardian, in reference to the epiphytic habit +
in W. G. Walpers and K. Müller berol., Ann. Bot. Syst. +
Polyradicion +  and Polyrrhiza +
Dendrophylax +
Orchidaceae tribe Vandeae +