Maxillaria
Fl. Peruv. Prodr., 116, plate 25. 1794.
Herbs, epiphytic, rarely terrestrial, cespitose to climbing. Stems reduced [elongate], usually terminated with pseudobulb. Leaves 1–many; blade conduplicate, linear, lanceolate, or elliptic, margins entire. Inflorescences solitary flowers borne laterally within bract or leaf-axil of rhizome of mature, immature, or apparently abortive shoots; floral bracts triangular, usually acute. Flowers: sepals and petals nearly same; dorsal sepal erect, concave; lateral sepals adnate to column-foot; lip 3-lobed or simple; column not winged, semiterete, with foot at base; pollinia 4, waxy; stigmatic cavity round; rostellum not prominent. Fruits capsules, ellipsoid to obovoid.
Distribution
Tropical regions, Western Hemisphere
Discussion
Species ca. 650 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
1 | Plants conspicuously rhizomatous; pseudobulbs conspicuous; sepals less than 1 cm. | Maxillaria parviflora |
1 | Plants cespitose; pseudobulbs absent or hidden from view; sepals more than 1 cm. | Maxillaria crassifolia |