Saccolabiopsis, commonly known as pitcher orchids,[2] is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Plants in this genus are small epiphytes with short, fibrous stems, smooth, thin roots, a few thin, oblong to lance-shaped leaves in two ranks and large numbers of small green flowers on an unbranched flowering stem. There are about fifteen species found from the eastern Himalayas to the south-west Pacific.

Saccolabiopsis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Vandeae
Subtribe: Aeridinae
Genus: Saccolabiopsis
J.J.Sm.[1]

Description edit

Orchids in the genus Saccolabiopsis are epiphytic, monopodial herbs with short stems and many smooth thin roots. The leaves are arranged in two ranks, oblong to lance-shaped, uncrowded and sometimes appear fan-like. A large number of small, uncrowded, mainly greenish, fragrant flowers are arranged on an unbranched flowering stem. The sepals and petals are narrow, and the labellum is stiffly attached to the column and has a deep cylindrical spur or pouch.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming edit

The genus Saccolabiopsis was first formally described in 1918 by Johannes Jacobus Smith and the description was published in Bulletin du Jardin botanique de Buitenzorg. The type species is Saccolabiopsis bakhuizenii.[1][6][7] The name Saccolabiopsis is a reference to the similarity of these orchids to those in the genus Saccolabium. The ending -opsis is an Ancient Greek suffix meaning "having the appearance of" or "like".[4][8]

Species list: The following is a list of species of Saccolabiopsis accepted by Plants of the World Online as at February 2022:[9]

Distribution edit

Species of Saccolabiopsis are found in the eastern Himalayas, the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, Malesia, Papuasia, Fiji and Queensland, Australia where two species are endemic.[1][2][5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Saccolabiopsis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 445. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. ^ Chen, Xinqi; Wood, Jeffrey J. "Saccolabiopsis". Flora of China. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b D.L.Jones; T.Hopley; S.M.Duffy (2010). "Saccolabiopsis". Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Saccolabiopsis". Orchids of New Guinea. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Saccolabiopsis". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  7. ^ Smith, Johannes Jacobus (1918). Bulletin du Jardin botanique de Buitenzorg (Series 2, No. 26). Buitenzorg: Departement de l'Agriculture, de l'Industrie et du Commerce aux Indes Neerlandaises. pp. 93–96. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  8. ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 483.
  9. ^ "Saccolabiopsis". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 23 February 2022.