Pleurothallis R.Br.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Small to large epiphytic herbs, with stems clustered or else branched from a creeping primary stem or rhizome; pseudobulbs absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves solitary on a stem, blades coriaceous, sessile or short-petiolate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences subtended by a conspicuous or inconspicuous spathe, terminal (rarely lateral), racemose or sometimes bearing a solitary flower; floral bracts tubular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers mostly small, yellowish, greenish or maroon; sepals equal or nearly so, erect or spreading, the median free or very shortly connate with the lateral; lateral sepals slightly or often completely connate; petals shorter or narrower than the sepals, sometimes minute; lip shorter or rarely a little longer than the petals, simple or 3-lobed, usually contracted at the base and jointed with the base of the column

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column semiterete, winged or wingless, often with a small column foot, this nearly obsolete to nearly as long as the column

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther terminal, operculate, incumbent, 1- or 2-celled; pollinia 2, 6 or 8, hard, waxy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary articulate with persistent pedicels

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subglobose or ellipsoid.

Distribution

A very large genus of hundreds of species (well over 2,000 epithets have been published), all of which are confined to the Western Hemisphere.

Ecology

Most commonly found in the moist montane regions of the tropics and subtropics. Very few species occur in the hot, dry lowland tropics, so it is rather surprising to find a species occurring near sea-level in the Cayman Islands.