Kefersteinia
(pronounced: kef-er-STYE-neah)
Classification
Maxillarieae subtribe Zygopetalinae
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Overview
Caespitose epiphytes with fan-shaped growths and thick white roots. Leaves linear to elliptic-oblanceolate, distichous, with imbricating bases. Inflorescences multiple erect to laxly pendent scapes, shorter than the leaves. Flowers flat or cupped. Sepals and petals free, usually subsimilar. Lip unlobed to variously three-lobed, clawed, often transversely folded to form a skirt, with a prominent basal callus. Column fleshy, straight, winged, with a ventral keel, with a short foot; pollinia four, subsessile on the viscidium.
Distribution
A genus of about 45 species distributed from Nicaragua to Bolivia. Closely allied to Chondrorhyncha Lindley and Cochleanthes Rafinesque, Kefersteinia was included in a very broadly defined Zygopetalum W. J. Hooker.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow Kefersteinia in small pots with a fine epiphyte mixture. Provide intermediate to cool-intermediate temperatures, medium light levels, and steady watering throughout the year. Kefersteinia and its relatives are prone to leaf drop and bacterial rots that appear to be aggravated by cold drafts, overly wet potting media, and overhead water drips during winter conditions in northern greenhouses. Copious air movement is essential.
Literature
Barbier, R. 1991. Une nouvelle espece guyanaise: Kefersteinia lafontanei Sengh. & Gerl. L’Orchidophile 98:173-174. Christenson, E. A. 2000. A new Kefersteinia from Cusco, Peru. Orchid Digest 64(3):139-141. Dressler, R. L. 1972. Una Kefersteinia nueva del Ecuador. Orquideologia 7:135-137. Dressler, R. L. 1983. Dos Kefersteinia nuevas de Panama. Orquideologia 16:47-62. Dressler, R. L. and D. E. Mora-Retana 1993. Kefersteinia excentrica, a distinctive new species from Costa Rica. Orquidea (Mex.) 13(1-2):261-264. Gerlach, G., T. Neudecker and H.-G. Seeger 1989. Chondrorhyncha vollesii und Kefersteinia andreettae, zwei neue Orchideen aus Südamerika. Die Orchidee 40:131-136. Potent, E., G. Potent and I. Bock 1997. Kefersteinia mystacina (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f. 1881 [10]. Die Orchidee 48(1): Orchideenkartei Setie 843-844. Senghas, K. and G. Gerlach 1990. Die Gattung Kefersteinia, mit zwei neuen Arten aus Guyana und aus Kolumbien. Die Orchidee 41(2):41-48.
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