Prosthechea Knowles & Westc.

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

Morphology General Habit

Epiphytic or epilithic plants with pseudobulbous, fusiform, often flattened stems

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–5, articulate, conduplicate, thin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence scapose or sessile racemes, often subtended by a prominent spathe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers commonly non-resupinate; lip adnate to basal half of the column, callus usually a thickened pad

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column usually gibbous, wingless, mid-tooth usually large, erect at apex of column, often covered by a fleshy knob-like, obtuse or truncate appendage, ligulate (connected to the anther cap by a thin flap of tissue), deltoid, subquadrate, or subflabellate, and sometimes fimbriate, lateral teeth stout, separated from mid-tooth by deep narrow sinuses.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules, three-winged or sharply three-angled, the suture covered by a strap of tissue that lifts upon dehiscence.

Distribution

A neotropical genus of about 90 species.