Polystachya
Encyclopedia
Polystachya, abbreviated Pol in horticultural trade, is a flowering plant
genus
in the orchid family
(Orchidaceae). This rather distinctive genus was described by William Jackson Hooker
in 1824 and is the type genus
of the subtribe
Polystachyinae
. It contains about 100 species
.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
genus
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...
in the orchid family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Orchidaceae). This rather distinctive genus was described by William Jackson Hooker
William Jackson Hooker
Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,...
in 1824 and is the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of the subtribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Polystachyinae
Polystachyinae
Polystachyinae is a subtribe within the tribe Vandeae in family Orchidaceae. It consists of 4 genera and about 228 known species. The type genus of this subtribe is Polystachya. The group is pantropical, being native to tropical Africa primarily, but also to tropical America....
. It contains about 100 species
Species
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...
.
Selected species
- Polystachya bicalcarataPolystachya bicalcarataPolystachya bicalcarata is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Pollard, B.J. &...
- Polystachya concretaPolystachya concretaPolystachya japonica is a species of orchid native to tropical and subtropical America and Asia.-Synonyms:Epidendrum concretum Jacq. is the basionym...
- Polystachya cooperiPolystachya cooperiPolystachya cooperi is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss....
- Polystachya cultriformis
- Polystachya farinosaPolystachya farinosaPolystachya farinosa is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in Cameroon and São Tomé and Príncipe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Polystachya geniculataPolystachya geniculataPolystachya geniculata is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Pollard,...
- Polystachya kupensisPolystachya kupensisPolystachya kupensis is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Polystachya laxifloraPolystachya laxifloraPolystachya laxiflora is a species of orchid native to western and west-central tropical Africa....
- Polystachya longiscapa Summerh.
- Polystachya maculataPolystachya maculataPolystachya maculata is a species of orchid endemic to Burundi....
- Polystachya oligophylla
- Polystachya puberulaPolystachya puberulaPolystachya puberula is a species of orchid native to western and west-central tropical Africa....
- Polystachya rivae
- Polystachya subdiphyllaPolystachya subdiphyllaPolystachya subdiphylla is a species of orchid native to Tanzania...
- Polystachya superpositaPolystachya superpositaPolystachya superposita is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Polystachya victoriaePolystachya victoriaePolystachya victoriae is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is found in Cameroon and Gabon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...