Trisetella

(pronounced: trye-seh-TEL-lah)

Classification

Epidendreae subtribe Pleurothallidinae

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Overview

Miniature caespitose tufted epiphytes. Leaves erect, linear-oblanceolate, petiolate. Inflorescences erect pedunculate subcapitate racemes, the floral bract inconspicuous. Flowers large for the size of the plant, produced singly in succession. Sepals fused, rarely free, the dorsal sepal with an elongate tail, the lateral sepals with elongate tails, often subapical and divergent, the petals minute, free. Lip obscurely three-lobed. Column straight, without wings, with a foot; pollinia 2, with elastic granular caudicles.

Etymology

From the Latin trisetellus, meaning three little bristles, referring to the hair-like sepaline tails.

Distribution

A genus of 20 species from throughout the Neotropics. The genus is divided into two sections. Trisetella hoeijeri is the sole species of Trisetella section Fissura Luer which is characterized by having free, not fused, lateral sepals.

Care and Culture Card

See basic growing conditions and care information below.


Literature

Luer, C. A. 1978. New combinations in Triaristella (Orchidaceae). Selbyana 2:205-206.

Luer, C. A. 1980. Trisetella, a new name in the Pleurothallidinae. Phytologia 47(2):57-58.

Luer, C. A. 1989. Icones Pleurothallidinarum VI. Systematics of Pleurothallis subgenus Ancipitia, subgenus Scopula, and Trisetella. Monogr. Syst. Bot. 31:1-125.
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