Trichoceros

Maxillarieae subtribe Telipogoninae

Scrambling terrestrials and lithophytes with elongate rhizome segments, forming congested mats of vegetation. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid, subtended by large foliaceous bracts. Leaves one, reduced to a small wisp. Inflorescences axillary, long-pedunculate racemes. Flowers produced in succession over long periods of time, insect-like. Sepals and petals free, spreading, subsimilar, subequal. Lip three-lobed, sessile, usually covered with trichomes. Column short, covered with trichomes; pollinia 4, on an elongate, spatulate common stipe and minute viscidium.

From the Greek tricho, meaning hair, and keras, meaning horn, referring to the hairy processes to either side of the column.

A genus of five species native to the Andes of South America. Adapted to pollination by pseudocopulation, the flowers of Trichoceros strongly resemble a common house-fly.

Senghas, K. 1994. Trichoceros antennifer (H. & B.) H., B. & K. 1815. Die Orchidee 45(5): Orchideenkartei Seite 779-780.