Trisetella
(pronounced: trye-seh-TEL-lah)
Classification
Epidendreae subtribe Pleurothallidinae
Overview
Miniature caespitose tufted epiphytes. Leaves erect, linear-oblanceolate, petiolate. Inflorescences erect pedunculate subcapitate racemes, the floral bract inconspicuous. Flowers large for the size of the plant, produced singly in succession. Sepals fused, rarely free, the dorsal sepal with an elongate tail, the lateral sepals with elongate tails, often subapical and divergent, the petals minute, free. Lip obscurely three-lobed. Column straight, without wings, with a foot; pollinia 2, with elastic granular caudicles.
Etymology
From the Latin trisetellus, meaning three little bristles, referring to the hair-like sepaline tails.
Distribution
A genus of 20 species from throughout the Neotropics. The genus is divided into two sections. Trisetella hoeijeri is the sole species of Trisetella section Fissura Luer which is characterized by having free, not fused, lateral sepals.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow plants of Trisetella in miniature pots with a fine, seedling-grade epiphyte mixture or on slabs with a small pad of moisture-retaining material at the roots. Provide medium light levels, cool-intermediate temperatures, and regular watering throughout the year. The roots should not dry out for significant periods of time. Trisetella inflorescences produce flowers successively over time so that care should be taken when removing what appear to be spent flower stalks.
Literature
Luer, C. A. 1978. New combinations in Triaristella (Orchidaceae). Selbyana 2:205-206. Luer, C. A. 1980. Trisetella, a new name in the Pleurothallidinae. Phytologia 47(2):57-58. Luer, C. A. 1989. Icones Pleurothallidinarum VI. Systematics of Pleurothallis subgenus Ancipitia, subgenus Scopula, and Trisetella. Monogr. Syst. Bot. 31:1-125.
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