Brassia
Encyclopedia
Brassia is a genus
of orchids classified in the Oncidiinae
subtribe.
The genus was named after William Brass, a British botanist and illustrator, who collected plants in Africa under the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks
. Its abbreviation in the horticultural trade is Brs.
and its popular hybrids are common in cultivation, and are notable for the characteristic long and spreading tepal
s (in some clones longer than 50 cm), which lend them the common name "spider orchid".
This epiphytic
genus occurs in South Florida, the West-Indies and tropical America, in wet forests from sea level to altitudes under 1500 m, with the Peruvian Andes
as its center. Occurrence is mostly restricted to a certain area, but Brassia caudata can be found over the whole geographic area.
They have large elliptic-oblong pseudobulb
s with one or two leaves at the apex, lateral, unbranched many-flowered inflorescence
s with small floral bract
s. The lip
is not attached to the column. The pollinarium shows a narrow stipe. There are two distichous, foliaceous sheath
s around the base, from which the inflorescence emerges.
Brassia has a very specific method for pollination : it uses entomophily : pollination
by insects and in this case specifically by female spider-hunter wasps
of the
genera Pepsis and Campsomeris. Mistaken by the mimicry of Brassia, the wasp stings the lip
, while trying to grasp its prey without any success. By these movements the wasp comes into contact with the pollinarium, that then sticks to its head. By flying to another Brassia flower, this flower gets pollinated.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of orchids classified in the Oncidiinae
Oncidiinae
The Oncidiinae is a subtribe within the Orchidaceae that consists of a number of genera that are closely related.This subtribe consists of about 70 genera with over 1000 species, with Oncidium as its largest genus. These genera consist of a single floral type based on the angle of the attachment of...
subtribe.
The genus was named after William Brass, a British botanist and illustrator, who collected plants in Africa under the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
. Its abbreviation in the horticultural trade is Brs.
Description
Brassia speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and its popular hybrids are common in cultivation, and are notable for the characteristic long and spreading tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s (in some clones longer than 50 cm), which lend them the common name "spider orchid".
This epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
genus occurs in South Florida, the West-Indies and tropical America, in wet forests from sea level to altitudes under 1500 m, with the Peruvian Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
as its center. Occurrence is mostly restricted to a certain area, but Brassia caudata can be found over the whole geographic area.
They have large elliptic-oblong pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s with one or two leaves at the apex, lateral, unbranched many-flowered inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s with small floral bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s. The lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
is not attached to the column. The pollinarium shows a narrow stipe. There are two distichous, foliaceous sheath
Sheath
Sheath may refer to:* Scabbard, a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade, as well as guns, such as rifles.* The outer covering of a cable* Condom, a kind of contraception* Debye sheath, a layer of a plasma in physics...
s around the base, from which the inflorescence emerges.
Brassia has a very specific method for pollination : it uses entomophily : pollination
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
by insects and in this case specifically by female spider-hunter wasps
Spider wasp
Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps . The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in 6 subfamilies...
of the
genera Pepsis and Campsomeris. Mistaken by the mimicry of Brassia, the wasp stings the lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
, while trying to grasp its prey without any success. By these movements the wasp comes into contact with the pollinarium, that then sticks to its head. By flying to another Brassia flower, this flower gets pollinated.
List of species
- Brassia angustilabia
- Brassia antherotes
- Brassia arachnoideaBrassia arachnoideaBrassia arachnoidea is a species of orchid....
- Brassia arcuigeraBrassia arcuigeraThe Arching Brassia is a species of orchid....
- Arching Brassia - Brassia aurorae - Reddish Brassia
- Brassia bidens - Two-toothed Brassia
- Brassia boliviensis
- Brassia caudataBrassia caudataThe Tailed Brassia is a species of orchid....
- Tailed Brassia - Brassia cauliformis
- Brassia chloroleuca - Green-and-white Brassia
- Brassia cochleataBrassia cochleataBrassia cochleata is a species of orchid....
- Brassia cyrtopetala
- Brassia filomenoi
- Brassia gireoudianaBrassia gireoudianaThe Gireoud's Brassia is a species of orchid....
- Gireoud's Brassia - Brassia helenae
- Brassia huebneri
- Brassia iguapoana
- Brassia jipijapensis - Jipijapa Brassia
- Brassia josstiana
- Brassia koehlerorum - Koehler's Brassia
- Brassia lanceanaBrassia lanceanaThe Lance's Brassia is a species of orchid....
- Lance's Brassia - Brassia maculataBrassia maculataThe Spotted Brassia is a species of orchid....
- Spotted Brassia - Brassia neglecta - Overlooked Brassia
- Brassia pascoensis
- Brassia peruviana - Peru Brassia
- Brassia rhizomatosa
- Brassia signata - Marked Brassia
- Brassia suavissima
- Brassia thyrsodes
- Brassia transamazonica
- Brassia verrucosaBrassia verrucosaBrassia verrucosa, also known as Warty Brassia, is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family.-References:*Bateman ex Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 26: t. 36 ....
- Warty Brassia - Brassia villosa
- Brassia wageneri - Wagener's Brassia
- Brassia warszewiczii - Warscewicz's Brassia
Intergeneric hybrids
- ×Alexanderara (Brassia x CochliodaCochliodaCochlioda, abbreviated Cda. in the horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids. It consists of more than 10 species, native to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia....
x OdontoglossumOdontoglossumOdontoglossum, first named in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth, is a genus of about 100 orchids. The scientific name is derived from the Greek words odon and glossa , referring to the two tooth-like calluses on the base of the lip...
x Oncidium) - ×AlicearaAliceara× Aliceara, abbreviated Alcra. in the horticultural trade, is the nothogenus for intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia, Miltonia and Oncidium ....
(Brassia x MiltoniaMiltoniaMiltonia, abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus formed by nine epiphyte species and eight natural hybrids inhabitants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one species reaching the northeast of Argentina and east of Paraguay. This genus was established by John Lindley in...
x Oncidium) - ×BakeraraBakerara× Bakerara, abbreviated Bak. in the horticultural trade, is the nothogenus for intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia, Miltonia and Odontoglossum ....
(Brassia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium) - ×Banfieldara (AdaAda (orchid)Ada, abbreviated as Ada in horticultural trade, is a genus of 16 species in the orchid family , subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Cymbidieae, subtribe Oncidiinae, alliance Oncidium. The type species is Ada aurantiaca....
x Brassia x Odontoglossum ) - ×BeallaraBeallara× Beallara, abbreviated Bllra. in the horticultural trade,, is the nothogenus for intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia, Cochlioda, Miltonia and Odontoglossum .-Description:...
(Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum ) - ×Brapasia (AspasiaAspasiaAspasia was a Milesian woman who was famous for her involvement with the Athenian statesman Pericles. Very little is known about the details of her life. She spent most of her adult life in Athens, and she may have influenced Pericles and Athenian politics...
x Brassia) - ×Brassada (Ada x Brassia)
- ×BrassidiumBrassidium× Brassidium, abbreviated in trade journals Brsdm, is an intergeneric hybrid between the orchid genera Brassia and Oncidium ....
(Brassia x Oncidium) - ×Brassioda (Brassia x Cochlioda)
- ×Brassochilus (Brassia x LeochilusLeochilusLeochilus is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
) - ×Brilliandeara (Aspasia x Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)
- ×Crawshayara (Aspasia x Brassia x Miltonia x Oncidium)
- ×DegarmoaraDegarmoara× Degarmoara, abbreviated Dgmra. in the horticultural trade, is the nothogenus comprising intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia, Miltonia and Odontoglossum ....
(Brassia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum ) - ×Derosaara (Aspasia x Brassia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum )
- ×Duggerara (Ada x Brassia x Miltonia)
- ×Eliara (Brassia x OncidiumOncidiumOncidium, abbreviated as Onc. in the horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subtribe Oncidiinae of the orchid family . This is a complex, difficult genus, with many species being reclassified...
x RodrigueziaRodrigueziaRodriguezia, abbreviated Rdza. in the horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids. It consists of 35 species, native to tropical America, in particular Brazil.-List of species:* Rodriguezia arevaloi* Rodriguezia bahiensis...
) - ×Forgetara (Aspasia x Brassia x Miltonia)
- ×Goodaleara (Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)
- ×Hamiltonara (Ada x Brassia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum )
- ×Johnkellyara (Brassia x Leochilus x Oncidium x Rodriguezia)
- ×MaclellanaraMaclellanara× Maclellanara, abbreviated Mclna. in the horticultural trade, is the nothogenus comprising intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia, Odontoglossum and Oncidium ....
(Brassia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium) - ×MiltassiaMiltassia× Miltassia, abbreviated Mtssa. in the horticultural trade, is the nothogenus for intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia and Miltonia ....
(Brassia x Miltonia) - ×Norwoodara (Brassia x Miltonia x Oncidium x Rodriguezia)
- ×OdontobrassiaOdontobrassia× Odontobrassia, abbreviated Odbrs. in the horticultural trade,, is the nothogenus comprising intergeneric hybrids between the orchid genera Brassia and Odontoglossum ....
(Brassia x Odontoglossum) - ×Pettitara (Ada x Brassia x Oncidium)
- ×Roccaforteara (Aspasia x Brassia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum)
- ×Rodrassia (Brassia x Rodriguezia)
- ×Rohriara (Ada x Aspasia x Brassia)
- ×Sanderara (Brassia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum)
- ×Sauledaara (Aspasia x Brassia x Miltonia x Oncidium x Rodriguezia)
- ×Schafferara (Aspasia x Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum)
- ×Shiveara (Aspasia x Brassia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)
- ×Wingfieldara (Aspasia x Brassia x Odontoglossum)
See also
- OrchidaceaeOrchidaceaeThe Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
- Taxonomy of the Orchid familyTaxonomy of the orchid familyThe taxonomy of the orchid family has evolved slowly during the last 250 years, starting with Carolus Linnaeus who in 1753 recognized eight genera. De Jussieu recognized the Orchidaceae as a separate family in 1789. Olof Swartz recognized 25 genera in 1800. Louis Claude Richard provided us in 1817...