Pleurothallis

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Orchidaceae
Subfamilia: Epidendroideae
Tribus: Epidendreae
Subtribus: Pleurothallidinae
Genus: Pleurothallis
Overview of species (542)
a

P. abortiva – P. acestrophylla – P. acutidentata – P. acutilabia – P. adeleae – P. adelphe – P. adonis – P. adventurae – P. aggeris – P. aguirrei – P. alborosea – P. allenii – P. alopex – P. altimonile – P. alvaroi – P. alveolata – P. ambyx – P. amentacea – P. amphigya – P. amplectens – P. anceps – P. andina – P. andreae – P. andreettae – P. angustissima – P. ankyloglossa – P. annectens – P. antennifera – P. anthrax – P. anthurioides – P. apopsis – P. aporosis – P. applanata – P. arachnopsis – P. archicolonae – P. archidonae – P. archidonopsis – P. archilarum – P. arctata – P. arietina – P. ascera – P. aspergillum – P. asplundii – P. atrohiata – P. aurita
b

P. baccata – P. baezensis – P. bangii – P. barbata – P. barrowii – P. batrachus – P. baudoensis – P. belocardia – P. bicallosa – P. bicochlearis – P. bicornis – P. bicruris – P. biserrula – P. bitumida – P. bivalvis – P. blepharopetala – P. bogarinii – P. bothros – P. bovilingua – P. bowmanni – P. brachiata – P. braidiana – P. brittoniana – P. bucculenta – P. bucranon – P. bulbosa
c

P. cachabensis – P. cajamarcae – P. calamifolia – P. calceolaris – P. callifera – P. calogramma – P. calolalax – P. calvariola – P. canaligera – P. caniceps – P. canidentis – P. capitonis – P. caprina – P. cardiochila – P. cardiocrepis – P. cardiophylax – P. cardiostola – P. cardiothallis – P. carduela – P. carnosa – P. carrenoi – P. cassidata – P. castanea – P. catharinensis – P. caucensis – P. cauda-hirundinis – P. cauda-phocae – P. cedrinorum – P. centranthera – P. cernua – P. chama – P. chaparensis – P. chavezii – P. chicalensis – P. chloroleuca – P. chuscalica – P. circinata – P. claudii – P. cleistogama – P. cobriformis – P. colossus – P. complanata – P. compressa – P. condorensis – P. conformalis – P. conicostigma – P. constricta – P. convexa – P. cordata – P. cordifolia – P. coriacardia – P. cornualis – P. correllii – P. corysta – P. cosmetron – P. cotyligera – P. crateriformis – P. crescentilabia – P. cristata – P. crocodiliceps – P. crossota – P. crucifera – P. cubitoria – P. culpameae – P. cultellifolis – P. cunabularis – P. curvifructa – P. cutucuensis – P. cuzcoensis – P. cyanea – P. cymbiformis – P. cymbisepala – P. cypelligera
d

P. dariensis – P. dasypetala – P. davisii – P. deflexa – P. dejavu – P. delascioi – P. demissa – P. dentipetala – P. depressa – P. deuterodriessenii – P. deuterowerneri – P. dewildei – P. diabolica – P. diazii – P. dibolia – P. dichotoma – P. dilemma – P. discoidea – P. divaricans – P. dorotheae – P. dorrii – P. doucetteana – P. dracuncula – P. dressleriana – P. drewii – P. driessenii – P. dubbeldamii – P. dukei – P. dunstervillei – P. duplex
e

P. eccentrica – P. ecomingae – P. eduardoi – P. eidos – P. ekmanii – P. elvirana – P. ensata – P. epiglottis – P. erythrium – P. escobarii – P. eumecocaulon – P. excavata – P. excentrica
f

P. fantastica – P. fastidiosa – P. flaveola – P. flavomarginata – P. folsomii – P. fonnegrae – P. forceps-cancri – P. fossulata – P. fugax – P. furcifera – P. fustifera
g

P. galerita – P. ganymedes – P. garayana – P. gargantua – P. genychila – P. geographica – P. gigiportillae – P. giraffa – P. giraldoi – P. glabra – P. globosa – P. glochis – P. glossopogon – P. gomezii – P. gracilicolumna – P. gracilipedunculata – P. grandiflora – P. gratiosa – P. grobleri – P. gustavoi – P. gutierrezii
h

P. habenula – P. hammelii – P. harpago – P. hartwegii – P. hawkingii – P. hawkinsii – P. helleri – P. hemileuca – P. hemisphaerica – P. henniae – P. hippocrepica – P. hirtziana – P. hispidula – P. hitchcockii – P. hjertingii – P. hoeijeri – P. holtonii – P. homalantha – P. homeroi
i

P. imbaburae – P. imber-florum – P. imitor – P. imperialis – P. incongrua – P. indecora – P. index – P. inflata – P. inornata – P. instar – P. ipyrangana – P. iris – P. isthmica
j

P. jacarepaguaensis – P. jaculifera – P. jaramilloi – P. jostii – P. jupiter – P. juvenilis
k

P. karlii – P. kaynagata – P. kelloggii – P. kellogiae – P. kelsoae – P. kerrii – P. killipii – P. knappiae
l

P. lacera – P. lamellaris – P. languida – P. latipetala – P. lemniscifolia – P. lenae – P. leopardina – P. leucantha – P. lilijae – P. lindenii – P. linearis – P. linguifera – P. litotes – P. llanganatensis – P. lobata – P. loejtnantii – P. londonoi – P. longipedicellata – P. lopezii – P. loranthophylla – P. loreae – P. luctuosa – P. lueriana – P. luna-crescens – P. lunaris – P. lutheri – P. lynniana
m

P. macra – P. macrocardia – P. madsenii – P. maduroi – P. magnifica – P. magnipetala – P. mammillata – P. manicosa – P. manningiana – P. mantiquyrana – P. marioi – P. marthae – P. mastodon – P. matudana – P. medinae – P. medusa – P. megaglossa – P. megalorhina – P. megalotis – P. melanosticta – P. membracidoides – P. micklowii – P. microcardia – P. microchila – P. millei – P. miniatura – P. minutilabia – P. miranda – P. mocoana – P. mundula – P. muriculata
n

P. nanella – P. nangaritzae – P. narinoensis – P. nasiterna – P. navilinguis – P. navisepala – P. neglecta – P. nelsonii – P. neobarbosae – P. neodubbeldamii – P. neorinkei – P. neossa – P. nephroglossa – P. nipterophylla – P. nitida – P. niveoglobula – P. nossax – P. notabilis – P. nox-media – P. nuda – P. nutans
o

P. obpyriformis – P. ocellus – P. octavioi – P. odobeniceps – P. omoglossa – P. onagriceps – P. oncoglossa – P. orecta – P. ortegae – P. orthostachys – P. orygmoglossa – P. oscarii – P. ottocarii – P. oxapampae
p

P. pallida – P. palliolata – P. pandurata – P. pansamalae – P. papillingua – P. paquishae – P. paraniesseniae – P. parviflora – P. peculiaris – P. pedunculata – P. pelex – P. pelicophora – P. penduliflora – P. penelops – P. penicillata – P. pennelliae – P. perijaensis – P. peroniocephala – P. perryi – P. persimilis – P. phalangifera – P. phoxophylla – P. phratria – P. phyllocardia – P. phyllocardioides – P. phymatodea – P. pileata – P. platypetala – P. platysepala – P. poculifera – P. polysticta – P. portillae – P. praecipua – P. prolaticollaris – P. pruinosa – P. pseudopogon – P. ptychophora – P. pudica – P. pulcherrima – P. pulvinaris – P. punctulata – P. pyelophera
q

P. quadricaudata – P. quadrifida – P. quaternaria – P. queremalensis – P. questionis – P. quitu-cara
r

P. radula – P. ramificans – P. ramiromedinae – P. ramosii – P. rectipetala – P. recurvata – P. reginae – P. renieana – P. reptans – P. restrepioides – P. revoluta – P. rhinocera – P. rhodoglossa – P. ringens – P. ripleyi – P. robusta – P. roseola – P. rowleei – P. ruberrima – P. rubrifolia – P. rubroinversa – P. rugosa – P. rusbyi – P. ruscaria – P. ruscifolia – P. rutrifolia
s

P. saccatilabia – P. sagittilabia – P. saltatoria – P. sanchoi – P. sandemanii – P. sanjanae – P. sanluisii – P. sannio – P. sarcochila – P. saueri – P. scabrilinguis – P. scaphipetala – P. schweinfurthii – P. scintillata – P. scoparum – P. scotinantha – P. scurrula – P. secunda – P. semiscabra – P. sergioi – P. serpens – P. serricardia – P. serrisepala – P. sextonii – P. sigynes – P. sijmii – P. silvae-pacis – P. silverstonei – P. simacoana – P. simulans – P. siphoglossa – P. sirene – P. sobrina – P. solium – P. solomonii – P. somnolenta – P. sotarae – P. spathulifolia – P. spathulipetala – P. sphaerantha – P. stelidilabia – P. stellata – P. stenota – P. stevensonii – P. steyermarkii – P. stricta – P. strobilifera – P. subreniformis – P. subsinuata – P. subtilis – P. suiniana – P. superbiens – P. supervacanea – P. suspensa – P. suspensa
t

P. talpinaria – P. talpinarioides – P. tamaensis – P. tandapiensis – P. tanyrhina – P. taurus – P. teaguei – P. tectosa – P. telamon – P. tenebrosa – P. tentaculata – P. tenuisepala – P. tetrachaeta – P. tetragona – P. tetroxys – P. thoerleae – P. tiarata – P. tipuloides – P. titan – P. tobarii – P. tonduzii – P. torrana – P. trachysepala – P. tragulosa – P. transversilabia – P. tridentata – P. trifurcata – P. trimeroglossa – P. tripterocarpa – P. troglodytes – P. truncata – P. tryssa – P. tuberculosa – P. tuzae – P. tyria
u

P. undulata – P. uninervia – P. upanoensis – P. urceolata – P. uvifera
v

P. valladolidensis – P. valvola – P. variabilis – P. veliformis – P. verruculosa – P. vide-vallis – P. viduata – P. vieirae – P. vinealis – P. volans – P. volcanica – P. vorator
w

P. wielii – P. wigginsii
x

P. xanthochlora
z

P. zarumae
Name

Pleurothallis R.Br. in W.T.Aiton, Hortus Kew. 5: 211 (1813)

Type species: Pleurothallis ruscifolia (Jacq.) R.Br. in W.T.Aiton, Hortus Kew. 5: 211 (1813)

Synonymy

Heterotypic
Acronia C.Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 103 (1827)
Centranthera Scheidw., Allg. Gartenzeitung 10: 293 (1842)
Rhynchopera Klotzsch in J.H.F.Link, J.F.Klotzsch & C.F.Otto, Icon. Pl. Rar. 2: 103 (1844)
Talpinaria H.Karst., Fl. Columb. 1: 153 (1859)
Pleurobotryum Barb.Rodr., Gen. Spec. Orchid. 1: 20 (1877)
Colombiana Ospina, Orquideologia 8: 230 (1973)
Andreettaea Luer, Selbyana 2: 183 (1978)
Mirandopsis Szlach. & Marg., Polish Bot. J. 46: 117 (2001)
Zosterophyllanthos Szlach. & Marg., Polish Bot. J. 46: 118 (2001)
Ancipitia (Luer) Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 254 (2004)
Antilla (Luer) Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 255 (2004)
Apoda-prorepentia (Luer) Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 255 (2004)
Areldia Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 255 (2004)
Atopoglossum Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 255 (2004)
Cucumeria Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 257 (2004)
Lindleyalis Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 258 (2004)
Madisonia Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 258 (2004)
Mixis Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 258 (2004)
Proctoria Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 258 (2004)
Rubellia (Luer) Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 258 (2004)
Orbis Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 103: 308 (2005)
Vestigium Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 103: 309 (2005), nom. illeg.
Gerardoa Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 105: 86 (2006)
Tridelta Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 105: 232 (2006)
Tigivesta Luer, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 112: 121 (2007)

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Northern America
Mexico
Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest.
Southern America
Brazil
Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central.
Caribbean
Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Islands.
Central America
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá.
Northern South America
French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela.
Southern South America
Argentina Northeast, Paraguay.
Western South America
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Brown, R. 1813. Hortus Kewensis; or, a Catalogue of the Plants Cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. London (2nd ed.) 5: 211.
Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.W. & Rasmussen, F.N. (eds.) 2006. Genera Orchidacearum Volume 4 Epidendroideae (Part one); page 385 ff., Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850712-7. Reference page.

Additional references

Chiron, G.R., Guiard, J. & Van den Berg, C. 2012. Phylogenetic relationships in Brazilian Pleurothallis sensu lato (Pleurothallidinae, Orchidaceae): evidence from nuclear ITS rDNA sequences. Phytotaxa 46: 34–58. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.46.1.5 Paywall ResearchGate Reference page.
Hokche, O., Berry, P.E. & Huber, O. (eds.) (2008) Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela: 1–859. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela.
Viveros, P. & Higgins, W.E. (2007) Checklist of Pleurothallidinae from Colombia. Selbyana 28: 13–90.

Links

Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2021. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Taxon: Pleurothallis. Accessed: 2021 Mar 2.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Pleurothallis in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Mar 2. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Pleurothallis in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Mar 2. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2021. Pleurothallis. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Mar 2. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Pleurothallis. Published online. Accessed: 2 Mar 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Pleurothallis. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 2 Mar 2021.

Vernacular names

English: Bonnet orchids
日本語: プレウロタリス属
перем коми: Плевроталлис
коми: Плевроталлис
lietuvių: Griautenė
мокшень: Плевроталлис
кырык мары: Плевроталлис
удмурт: Плевроталлис

Pleurothallis is a genus of orchids commonly called bonnet orchids. The genus name is derived from the Greek word pleurothallos, meaning "riblike branches". This refers to the rib-like stems of many species. The genus is often abbreviated as "Pths" in horticultural trade.

This was a huge genus, which used to contain more than 1,200 species - the second largest in the Orchidaceae after Bulbophyllum. In 2004, it decreased by more than half when many species were moved into new genera.[2]

Distribution

Pleurothallis is a completely New World group, widespread across much of Mexico, Central America, South America and the West Indies.[1] Flora of North America[3] lists one species in Florida (P. gelina) but this has now been transferred to a different genus, Stelis.[4] The center of diversity of the genus is in the high Andes, especially in the chain of cloud forests in Colombia. Pleurothallis grows in dry or wet, tropical or temperate climates.
Description


As a group they show a huge range in vegetative form, terrestrial or epiphytic, and can be found as tall cane-like plants a metre or so high, clumped or trailing, pendent or climbing, erect or creeping, tufted and tiny, delicate moss-like species that can grow on the thinnest of twigs. But they have one common denominator: they all have two pollinia.

They have reduced their pseudobulbs and instead, some species have thick succulent leaves.

Their flowers are among the most diverse and unusual, although often very small, and specialize in using tiny insects such as gnats or small wasps for pollination.
Taxonomy

To bring some order in this extremely diverse genus, 29 subgenera and 25 sections had been created. Much of this work has been done by Dr. C. Luer of the Missouri Botanical Garden. A new analysis, based on DNA testing, confirmed on the whole the classification of the subtribe Pleurothallidinae, with however Pleurothallis as the main difference. New genetic insight broke up this huge genus and made it more consistent with the principles of monophyletic genera and evolutionary relationships.

Several times before, a splitting up has been attempted, but there were always too many intermediate forms. In 2004 the genera Acianthera, Ancipitia, Antilla, Apoda-prorepentia, Areldia, Atopoglossum, Brenesia, Crocodeilanthe were created, incorporating a large number of former Pleurothallis species.[5] The subgenera Pleurothallis and Specklinia are becoming separate genera, and the subgenus Acuminatae might become the proposed genus Anathallis.

Other allied genera include Dracula, Masdevallia, Restrepia, and Stelis.[6]
Species
Pleurothallis crossota
Main article: List of Pleurothallis species

As of 2020, Kew's Plants of the World Online listed around 540 species in the genus.[7] Selected species include:

Pleurothallis cardiothallis
Pleurothallis crossota
Pleurothallis dibolia
Pleurothallis ensata
Pleurothallis epiglottis
Pleurothallis fossulata
Pleurothallis nipterophylla
Pleurothallis prolaticollaris
Pleurothallis pruinosa
Pleurothallis ruberrima
Pleurothallis ruscifolia
Pleurothallis scurrula

References

Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Pleurothallis
(Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 256. Feb 2004).
Flora of North America v 26 p 617, Pleurothallis gelida
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Pleurothallis gelida
Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 95: 255. 2004 [Feb 2004]
Analysis of the DNA-Based Reclassification of the Pleurothallidinae

"Pleurothallis R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2020.

Luer, Carlyle; 1986 - Icones Pleurothallidinarum III: Systematics of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae); Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Pridgeon, A. & M. Chase (2001). "A phylogenetic reclassification of Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae)". Lindleyana. 16: 235–271.