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Pseudolaelia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pseudolaelia
Pseudolaelia corcovadensis
Scientific classification Edit this 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

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.

Description

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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

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Species accepted as of June 2014:[1]

Image Name Distribution Elevation (m)
Pseudolaelia aromatica Campacci Minas Gerais around 490 meters
Pseudolaelia ataleiensis Campacci Minas Gerais around 280 meters
Pseudolaelia brejetubensis M.Frey Espírito Santo 1100 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia calimaniorum V.P.Castro & Chiron Espírito Santo 1000 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia canaanensis (Ruschi) F.Barros Espírito Santo 300 – 1000 meters
Pseudolaelia cipoensis Pabst Serra do Cipó around 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia citrina Pabst Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo around 1200 meters
Pseudolaelia corcovadensis Porto & Brade Rio de Janeiro 500 – 900 meters
Pseudolaelia dutraei Ruschi Espírito Santo 400 - 700 metrers
Pseudolaelia freyi Chiron & V.P.Castro Espírito Santo 1100 – 1400 meters
Pseudolaelia geraensis Pabst Minas Gerais
Pseudolaelia irwiniana Pabst Serra do Espinhaço around 900 meters
Pseudolaelia maquijiensis M.Frey Espírito Santo around 700 meters
Pseudolaelia oliveirana V.P.Castro & Chiron Espírito Santo 400 – 600 meters
Pseudolaelia pavopolitana M.Frey Espírito Santo around 350 meters
Pseudolaelia pitengoensis Campacci Minas Gerais around 600 meters
Pseudolaelia regentii V.P.Castro & Marçal Bahia
Pseudolaelia vellozicola (Hoehne) Porto & Brade Bahia, Espírito Santo 1000 – 1400 meters

Natural hybrids

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

References

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  • 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

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