Maxillaria
(pronounced: mak-sil-AYR-ee-ah)
Classification
Maxillarieae subtribe Maxillariinae
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Etymology
From the Latin, maxilla, meaning jaw-bone, referring to the angle formed by the column and lip.
Distribution
A genus of about 420 species found throughout the Neotropics.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Given the diversity of the genus, it is difficult to give general culture guidelines. Maxillarias may be mounted on slabs with moisture-retaining material at the roots or they may accomodated in baskets or pots. When grown in containers a fine-grade epiphyte mixture should be used. High elevation species from cloud forests do well when grown in sphagnum moss taking special care to avoid letting the roots become completely dry or too warm in temperature. Most species should be given medium to medium-bright light levels giving attention to avoid excessive heat build-up on the leaves. Water regularly throughout the year. Even though growth is cyclic, the plants do not require a sharp resting period. Caespitose species tend to flower more prolifically if allowed to become pot-bound. .................................................... 17 .................................................... 22 divided and lobulate (Central America). ... M. endresii
Literature
Atwood, J. T. 1978. A new species of Mormolyca Fenzl. (Orchidaceae) from Bolivia. Selbyana 2:343-344. Atwood, J. T. 1981. Two new species of Maxillaria (Orchidaceae) from Nicaragua. Selbyana 5:302-305. Atwood, J. T. 1984. Two new species of the Maxillaria notylioglossa Rchb.f. complex from Bolivia. Selbyana 7:248-251. Atwood, J. T. 1985. Notes from the O.I.C., Maxillaria -- a forgotten genus. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 54(1):25-30. Atwood, J. T. 1989. Some seldom-seen Maxillarias from Panama. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 58:42-47. Atwood, J. T. 1995. Two overlooked species of Maxillaria from Central America. Selbyana 16(2):242-245. Barringer, K. A. 1985. A new species of Maxillaria (Orchidaceae) from Costa Rica. Brittonia 37(1):44-46. Bock, I. 1984. Maxillaria setigera var. carolii Bock, eine neufund aus Kolumbien. Die Orchidee 35:219-221. Bock, I. 1989. Maxillaria subulifolia Schltr. Die Orchidee 40:143-146. Bock, I. 1997. Maxillaria admonens Bock, eine neue Art aus Costa Rica. Die Orchidee 48(3):105-107. Bock, I. 2000. Maxillaria serrulata Ames et Correll 1943 [1]. Die Orchidee 51(1): Orchideenkartei Seite 915-916. Breedlove, D. E. and D. Mally 1989. A new species of Maxillaria from Chiapas, Mexico. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 58:1234-1238. Brieger, F. G. and P. F. Hunt 1969. Hormidium, Maxillaria and Scaphyglottis (Orchidaceae). Taxon 18(5):601-603. Busch, I. 1991. Zur pflege von Maxillarien. Die Orchidee 42(3):142-147. Carnevali, G. and J. T. Atwood 1996. Two new species in the Maxillaria rufescens complex from Central America. Lindleyana 11(1):27-33. Carnevali, G. and I. Ramirez 1989. New or noteworthy orchids for the Venezuelan flora: 7. Additions in Maxillaria from the Venezuelan Guyana. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 76:374-380. Christenson, E. A. 1999. Maxillaria lepidota. Orchids 68(10):1016-1019. Christenson, E. A. 2000. Maxillaria tonsbergii, a spectacular new species from South America. Orchid Digest 64(1):13-14. Christenson, E. A. 2000. Maxillaria turkeliae: a showy new species from Ecuador. Orchid Digest 64(2):65. Christenson, E. A. 2001. Maxillaria tenuibulba E. A. Christenson, sp. nov. Orchid Rev. 109(1237):41-43. Christenson, E. A. and D. E. Bennett, Jr. 1998. Maxillaria amesiana. Orchids 67(8):816-817. Costantin, J. 1912. Note sur le Maxillaria chlorantha x ochroleuca (Orchidaceae). Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. 22:417-419. Dressler, R. L. 1981. Maxillaria insolita, especie nueva panamena. Orquideologia 14:203-208. Garay, L. A. 1997. The identity of the type drawings of Maxillaria Ruiz & Pavon. The Maxillareae 1(1):3-5. Hoehne, F. C. 1947. Reajustamento de algumas espécies de maxillarieas do Brasil, com a criacao de dois novos gêneros para elas. Arq. Bot. Edo. Sao Paulo, n. s., 2:65-73. Hoehne, F. C. 1948. Reajustamento de algumas espécies de maxillarieas do Brasil, com a criacao de dois novos gêneros para elas. Orquidea 11:14-28. Janse, J. M. 1886. Imitirte Pollenkörner bei Maxillaria sp. Deutsche Bot. Gesell. Berichte 4:277-283. McIllmurray, M. and H. Oakeley 2001. Maxillaria platypetala Ruiz & Pav., the type for the genus. Orchid Rev. 109(1237):49-51. Oakeley, H. F. 2001. Maxillaria longipetala Ruiz & Pav. and Lycaste gigantea Lindl. Orchid Rev. 109(1237):46-48. Pabst, G. F. J. 1960. Maxillaria seidelii. Orquidea 22:52-54. Read, V. M. St. J. 1983. Maxillaria brachybulbon Schltr. and Pleurothallis foliata Griseb., new records for Trinidad. Orchid Rev. 91(1073):81. Schweinfurth, C. 1944. A novelty in typical Maxillaria from Peru. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(1):22-24. Schweinfurth, C. 1944. A new and unusual form of South American Maxillaria. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(2):60-62. Schweinfurth, C. 1944. A new Peruvian orchid. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 113(3):92-94. Schweinfurth, C. 1944. An undescribed Maxillaria from the Peruvian Highlands. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(4):130-132. Schweinfurth, C. 1944. An attractive creeping Maxillaria. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(5):162-164. Schweinfurth, C. 1944. A distinctive Maxillaria from Peru. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(7):232-233. Schweinfurth, C. 1945. A new alpine Maxillaria. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 13(8):266-267. Schweinfurth, C. 1945. Some Peruvian maxillarias. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 11(10):261-307. Schweinfurth, C. 1968. A new species of Maxillaria. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 37(5):409-410. Senghas, K. 1977. Maxillaria horichii, eine neue Orchidee aus Costa Rica. Die Orchidee 28:13-18. Senghas, K. 1994. Marsupiaria valenzuelana (A. Rich.) Garay 1952. Die Orchidee 45(3): Orchideenkartei Seite 761-761. Senghas, K. 1995. Ornithidium fulgens Rchb.f. 1866. Die Orchidee 46(2): Orchideenkartei Seite 793-794. Williams, L. O. 1942. A new Maxillaria from Panama. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 10(9):272-273. Williams, L. O. 1942. A new Maxillaria from Mexico. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 11(4):132-133.
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