Pelexia

Cranichideae subtribe Spiranthinae. Pelexia is closely related to Sarcoglottis but differs by having an externally visible spur (the spur in Sarcoglottis is completely fused to the ovary).

Rosulate terrestrials. Roots fleshy, fasciculate. Leaves few, erect, long-petiolate. Inflorescences erect, long-scapose, few to many-flowered, laxly to densely-flowered racemes. Flowers usually green to brownish green. Sepals and petals free, the dorsal sepal and petals appressed forming a hood, the lateral sepals often strongly reflexed. Lip three-lobed, auriculate, the lateral lobes erect-incurved, the base extended in a spur fused to the ovary. Column stout, with a foot fused to the ovary, the stigmas two, the rostellum linear-oblong to strap-shaped; pollinia 2, grooved, on a common viscidium.

A genus of 72 species found throughout the Neotropics.

Burns-Balogh, P. and H. Robinson 1983. Evolution and phylogeny of the Pelexia alliance (Orchidaceae: Spiranthinae). Syst. Bot. 8(3):263-268.

Greenwood, E. W. 1990. Pelexia scintillana, a new species from Oaxaca. Orquidea (Mex.) 12:47-53.

Singer, R. B. and M. Sazima 1999. The pollination mechanism in the “Pelexia alliance” (Orchidaceae: Spiranthinae). Bot. Journ. Linn. Soc. 131:249-262.