Eltroplectris

(pronounced: el-troh-PLEK-triss)

Classification

Cranichideae subtribe Spiranthinae

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Overview

Acaulous terrestrials with fasciculate, fleshy, densely villous roots. Leaves solitary to several, non-articulate, long petiolate. Inflorescences stiffly erect, scapose, few-flowered racemes, the peduncle concealed by conspicuous bracts. Sepals free, spreading, the lateral sepals fused to the column foot forming a spur. Petals appressed to the dorsal sepal. Lip unlobed, clawed, arching-recurved, shorter than the sepals. Column slender, the foot elongate and partially fused to the ovary, the rostellum rigid, needle-like to linear; pollinia 2, mealy, club-shaped, attached to an oblong viscidium.

Etymology

From the Greek plectron, meaning spur, referring to the conspicuously spurred lip. The first half of the name is obscure; perhaps a garbled form of eleutheros, meaning free.

Distribution

A genus of about twelve species ranging from Florida and the Caribbean to Guyana and Ecuador.

Care and Culture Card

See basic growing conditions and care information below.


Literature

Lucke, E. 1999. Eltroplectris roseo-alba: Entwicklung vom Samen bis zur Blüte. Die Orchidee 50(4):34-36.

Pabst, G. F. J. 1960. Uma Orquidea rara no Brasil. Orquidea 22:272-273.

Speckmaier, M. 2000. Eltroplectris roseo-alba: Venezuelas grossblütiste Spiranthinae. Die Orchidee 51(3):333-336.
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