Prosthechea is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke (appendix), referring to the appendage on the back of the column. Appendage orchid is a common name for this genus. Prosthechea is abbreviated Psh. in the horticultural trade.[1]
The roots of all Prosthechea species possess a velamen (a thick sponge-like covering) differentiated into epivelamen and endovelamen. Flavonoid crystals were observed in both the roots and leaves. The erect stems form flattened or thickened pseudobulbs. There are 1 to 3 terminal, sessile leaves. The leathery blade is ovate to lanceolate. (Euchile leaves are softer and thinner than other Prosthechea leaves.)
The flowers form an apical, paniculate raceme with a spathe at the base of the inflorescence. There is a great variety in the flowers of this genus. They may be attached to the stem by a peduncle or they may be sessile. They can flower on the raceme at the same time or successively. They can be resupinate or non-resupinate (as in Prosthechea cochleata). Prosthechea flowers are unique among the Laeliinae in producing fluorescent flavenoid crystals when preserved in ethanol with 5% sodium hydroxide.[2]
The sepals are almost equal in length, while the petals can be much slender. The lip is pressed closely (adnate to proximal) to half of the column and shows a callus (a stiff protuberance). The column is 3- to 5-toothed at its top.
There are four, almost equal pollinia with an inverted egg shape. There are four stalks (or caudicles) in two pairs. The beak is entire, curved into a half circle and covered with viscous glycoside crystals.
The fruits consist of ellipse-shaped to egg-shaped, 1-locular, 3-winged capsules.
The genus Prosthechea has only recently (1997; published in 1998) been reestablished by W. E. Higgins as a distinct genus (see references). Two species were later transferred to Euchile (E. citrina and E. mariae) by Withner in 1998.[3] The status of Euchile species as sister to Prosthechea excluding Euchile was confirmed by Higgins in his doctoral dissertation in 2000.[4] Previously, the species had been included in different genera : Anacheilium, Encyclia, Epidendrum, Euchile, Hormidium and Pollardia. The status as genus was confirmed by recent data, based on molecular evidence (nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (matK and trnL-F) DNA sequence data) (W. E. Higgins et al. 2003).
This is a neotropical epiphytic genus, widespread across much of Latin America from Mexico to Paraguay, as well as in Florida and the West Indies.[5] [6]
, Plants of the World Online accepts the following species:[7]
| Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prosthechea abbreviata (Schltr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea aemula (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea alagoensis (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Alagoas and Bahia) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea allemanii (Barb.Rodr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Minas Gerais and Parana) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea allemanoides (Hoehne) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais and São Paulo) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea aloisii (Schltr.) Dodson & Hágsater (1999). | Ecuador (Imbabura) | ||
| Prosthechea arminii (Rchb.f.) Withner & P.A.Harding (2004). | Colombia and Venezuela | 1200m (3,900feet) | |
| Prosthechea baculus (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Vera Cruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas), Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica and south to Colombia and Brazil | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea barbozae Pupulin (2004). | Costa Rica | 900m (3,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea bennettii (Christenson) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Peru | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea bicamerata (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea bohnkiana V.P.Castro & G.F.Carr(2004). | Brazil (Bahia) | 1000m (3,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea boothiana (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Florida, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Caymans, Mexico, Guatemala and Belize | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea borsiana (Campacci) Van den Berg (2015) | Peru (Amazonas) and Brazil (Goias) | ||
| Prosthechea brachiata (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Guerrero and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea brachychila (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Colombia, and Venezuela | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea brassavolae (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea bueraremensis (Campacci) Van den Berg(2015) | Brazil (Bahia) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea bulbosa (Vell.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | southeastern Brazil | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea caetensis (Bicalho) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Minas Gerais and Bahia) | ||
| Prosthechea calamaria (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Bolivia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea campos-portoi (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Espirito Santo) | ||
| Prosthechea campylostalix (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Guatemala, Panama and Costa Rica | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea carrii V.P.Castro & Campacci (2001). | Brazil (Bahia) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea chacaoensis (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea chimborazoensis (Schltr.) W.E.Higgins | Panama to Ecuador and Venezuela | ||
| Prosthechea chondylobulbon (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, Mexico, Oaxaca, Vera Cruz, Puebla and Chiapas), Guatemala and El Salvador | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea christensonii (Harding) W.E.Higgins (2009) | Ecuador | ||
| Prosthechea christyana (Rchb.f.) Garay & Withner (2001). | Bolivia | ||
| Prosthechea citrina (Lex.) W.E.Higgins(1997 publ. 1998) | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea cochleata (L.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Florida, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Leewards, Puerto Rica, Windwards, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia | 1900m (6,200feet) | |
| Prosthechea concolor (Lex.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Jalisco, Michoacan, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Puebla) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea crassilabia (Poepp. & Endl.) Carnevali & I.Ramírez | Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Surinam, French Guiana, and Guyana | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea cretacea (Dressler & G.E.Pollard) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Michoacan, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrero and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea ebanii Chiron & V.P.Castro(2008) | Brazil (Espirito Santo) | ||
| Prosthechea elisae Chiron & V.P.Castro (2003). | Brazil (Espirito Santo) | 500m (1,600feet) | |
| Prosthechea faresiana (Bicalho) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Minas Gerais) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea farfanii Christenson (2002). | Peru | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea fausta (Rchb.f. ex Cogn.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil | 700m (2,300feet) | |
| Prosthechea favoris (Rchb.f.) Salazar & Soto Arenas (2001). | Mexico | ||
| Prosthechea fortunae (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Panama (Chiriqui) | ||
| Prosthechea fragrans (Sw.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Leewards, Trinidad & Tobago, Windwards, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil | 2000m (7,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea fuertesii (Cogn.) Christenson (2008) | Cuba to Hispaniola. | ||
| Prosthechea garciana (Garay & Dunst.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela | 1200m (3,900feet) | |
| Prosthechea ghiesbreghtiana (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Guerrero and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea gilbertoi (Garay) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Colombia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea glauca Knowles & Westc. (1838). | Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea glumacea (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador and Brazil | 50m (160feet) | |
| Prosthechea grammatoglossa (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea greenwoodiana (Aguirre-Olav.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Oaxaca) | 2020m (6,630feet) | |
| Prosthechea guttata (Schltr.) Christenson (2003). | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea hajekii D.E.Benn. & Christenson (2001). | Peru (Junin) | 1800m (5,900feet) | |
| Prosthechea hartwegii (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea hastata (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Guerrero and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea ionocentra (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea ionophlebia (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Costa Rica and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea itabirinhensis (Campacci) J.M.H.Shaw | Brazil (Minas Gerais) | 1245m (4,085feet) | |
| Prosthechea jauana (Carnevali & I.Ramírez) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela | ||
| Prosthechea joaquingarciana Pupulin (2001). | Costa Rica | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea karwinskii (Mart.) J.M.H.Shaw | Mexico (Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea kautskyi (Pabst) W.E.Higgins | Brazil (Espirito Santo) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea lambda (Linden ex Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Colombia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea lindenii (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Colombia and Venezuela | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea livida (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998) | Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea macrothyrsodes (Rchb.f.) Christenson | Colombia | ||
| Prosthechea madrensis (Schltr.) Karremans | Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea magnispatha (Ames, F.T.Hubb. & C.Schweinf.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea marciliana (Campacci) W.E.Higgins | Brazil (Mato Grosso) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea mariae (Ames) W.E.Higgins | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea megahybos (Schltr.) Dodson & Hágsater (1999). | Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea mejia (Withner & P.A.Harding) W.E.Higgins | Colombia | ||
| Prosthechea michuacana (Lex.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998) | Mexico (Michoacan, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Vera Cruz, and Chiapas), Guatemala and Honduras | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea micropus (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (2005) | Mexico (Nayarit, Jaslisco, Guerrero, Mexico, Morelos, and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea moojenii (Pabst) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Bahia and Minas Gerais) | 300m (1,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea mulasii Soto Arenas & L.Cerv. (2002 publ. 2003). | Mexico (Guerrero, Jalisco and Mexico) and Guatemala | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea neglecta Pupulin (2001). | Costa Rica | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea neurosa (Ames) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Chiapas), Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea obpiribulbon (Hágsater) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Oaxaca to Jalisco) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea ochracea (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea ortizii (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Costa Rica | ||
| Prosthechea pachysepala (Klotzsch) Chiron & V.P.Castro | Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and São Paulo) | 1000m (3,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea pamplonensis (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela and Ecuador | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea panthera (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico(Oaxaca and Chiapas) and Guatemala | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea papilio (Vell.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais near Serra da Canastra, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catalina) | ||
| Prosthechea pastoris (Lex.) Espejo & López-Ferr. (2000). | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea pitengoensis (T.V.S.Campacci & Laitano) J.M.H.Shaw | Brasil (Minas Geraias) | 600m (2,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea pringlei (Rolfe) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Michoacan, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrero and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea prismatocarpa (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Costa Rica and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea pseudopygmaea (Finet) W.E.Higgins | Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea pterocarpa (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea pulcherrima (Klotzsch) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Peru | ||
| Prosthechea pulchra Dodson & W.E.Higgins (2001). | Ecuador and Bolivia | 2600m (8,500feet) | |
| Prosthechea punctulata (Rchb.f.) Soto Arenas & Salazar | Mexico (Sinaloa, Jalisco, Michoacan, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrero) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea pygmaea (Hook.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Florida, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Leewards?, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Windwards, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea racemifera (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Costa Rica and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea radiata (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (San Luis Potosí, Querétaro Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tabasco and Chiapas), Guatemala, Honduras and Belize to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea regentii V.P.Castro & Chiron | Brazil (Minas Gerais) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea regnelliana (Hoehne & Schltr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Minas Gerais) | ||
| Prosthechea rhynchophora (A.Rich. & Galeotti) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea roraimensis V.P.Castro & Campacci | Brazil (Roraima) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea sceptra (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea schunkiana (Campacci & P.A.Harding) W.E.Higgins | Brazil (Minas Gerais) | 600m (2,000feet) | |
| Prosthechea semiaperta (Hágsater) W.E.Higgins | Mexico (Guerrero and Oaxaca) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea serpentilingua Withner & D.G.Hunt | Brazil | ||
| Prosthechea sessiliflora (Edwall) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (São Paulo and Minas Gerais) | ||
| Prosthechea silvana Cath. & V.P.Castro (2003). | Brazil (Bahia) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea sima (Dressler) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Panama and Colombia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea spondiada (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Panama | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea squalida (Lex.) Soto Arenas & Salazar | Mexico (Nayarit, Jalisco, Coloma, Michoacan, Guerrerro, Mexico, Moreles, Oaxaca and Vera Cruz) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea suzanensis (Hoehne) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Minas Gerais, São Paulo) | ||
| Prosthechea tardiflora Mora-Ret. ex Pupulin (2001). | Costa Rica | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea terassaniana (Campacci & P.A.Harding) W.E.Higgins | Brazil (São Paulo) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea tigrina (Linden ex Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and the Guianas | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea tinukiana Bogarín & Karremans | Costa Rica | 2450m (8,040feet) | |
| Prosthechea trulla (Rchb.f.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea vagans (Ames) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea varicosa (Bateman ex Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico (Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca, Vera Cruz, Puebla, and Hidalgo) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea vasquezii Christenson (2003). | Bolivia. | ||
| Prosthechea venezuelana (Schltr.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador | 450m (1,480feet) | |
| Prosthechea vespa (Vell.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea villae-rosae P.Ortiz | Colombia (Cundinamarca) | 2800m (9,200feet) | |
| Prosthechea vita (D.G.Hunt, Withner & P.A.Harding) J.M.H.Shaw | Ecuador | ||
| Prosthechea vitellina (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Mexico, Nicaragua and Honduras | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Prosthechea widgrenii (Lindl.) W.E.Higgins (1997 publ. 1998). | Brazil (Minas Gerais) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |