Restrepia
Encyclopedia
Restrepia, abbreviated Rstp in horticultural trade, is a small genus
of 49 orchids in the orchid family (Orchidaceae
), closely related to Pleurothallis. Named in honor of Don Jose Restrepo, it tends to be more showy than most other Pleurothallids
. They are found primarily at higher altitudes in the cool, damp montane forests of the Andes
and Venezuela
, with some into Central America
up to southern Mexico
.
and rarely lithophytic
orchids lack pseudobulb
s. The erect, thick, leathery leaf is elliptic-ovate in shape. The aerial root
s seem like fine hairs.
The flowers develop one at a time at the base of the leaf. They are borne on a slender peduncle, originating from the base of the back of the leaf. The long dorsal sepal
is erect and ends in a somewhat thicker club-shaped tip. They have fused lateral sepals (synsepal
s) which may be quite colorful : white, yellow, rose, purple, orange or tan with red, brown or purple overlaid frequently with contrasting reddish-purple spots or stripes. The long, lateral petal
s equally end in a thickened club-shaped tip. The long lip
is ovoid and widest its apex. It shows the same variations in color and markings.
They are generally of tufted habit and white sheathed stems with fine papery bract
s. Under the right conditions, they can be in flower all year long. They propagate by spreading and forming new plantlets, called keikis, from the base of mature leaves.
Several species, such as Restrepia muscifera
, are very variable in size, shape and color. No two populations are the same.
Three subgenera are recognized.
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 49 orchids in the orchid family (Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The 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,...
), closely related to Pleurothallis. Named in honor of Don Jose Restrepo, it tends to be more showy than most other Pleurothallids
Pleurothallidinae
The Pleurothallidinae are a neotropical subtribe of plants of the orchid family including 29 genera in more than 4000 species.Naturally occurring species of this subtribe are among the more popular orchids of horticulturalists, especially the genera Dracula, Dryadella, Masdevallia and...
. They are found primarily at higher altitudes in the cool, damp montane forests of the 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...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, with some into Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
up to southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Description
These tiny epiphyticEpiphyte
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...
and rarely lithophytic
Lithophyte
Lithophytes are a type of plant that grows in or on rocks. Lithophytes feed off moss, nutrients in rain water, litter, and even their own dead tissue....
orchids lack 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. The erect, thick, leathery leaf is elliptic-ovate in shape. The aerial root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s seem like fine hairs.
The flowers develop one at a time at the base of the leaf. They are borne on a slender peduncle, originating from the base of the back of the leaf. The long dorsal sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
is erect and ends in a somewhat thicker club-shaped tip. They have fused lateral sepals (synsepal
Synsepal
A synsepal is a floral structure formed by the partial or complete fusion of two or more sepals. Such sepals are said to be gamosepalous....
s) which may be quite colorful : white, yellow, rose, purple, orange or tan with red, brown or purple overlaid frequently with contrasting reddish-purple spots or stripes. The long, lateral petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s equally end in a thickened club-shaped tip. The long 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 ovoid and widest its apex. It shows the same variations in color and markings.
They are generally of tufted habit and white sheathed stems with fine papery 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. Under the right conditions, they can be in flower all year long. They propagate by spreading and forming new plantlets, called keikis, from the base of mature leaves.
Several species, such as Restrepia muscifera
Restrepia muscifera
Restrepia muscifera, commonly known as the Fly-carrying Restrepia, is a species of orchid.The epithet 'muscifera' is a Latin word, meaning 'fly bearing'...
, are very variable in size, shape and color. No two populations are the same.
Species
The type species is Restrepia antennifera.Three subgenera are recognized.
- Restrepia aberrans (Panama).
- Restrepia antenniferaRestrepia antenniferaRestrepia antennifera, the Antennae-carrying Restrepia, is an epiphytic, miniature species of orchid found at higher altitudes in cool, moist montane forests in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador....
: Antennae-carrying Restrepia (W. South America to NW. Venezuela). - Restrepia aristuliferaRestrepia aristuliferaRestrepia aristulifera is a species of orchid endemic to Venezuela....
(Venezuela). - Restrepia aspasicensiumRestrepia aspasicensiumRestrepia aspasicensium is a species of orchid occurring from Colombia to northwestern Venezuela....
(Colombia to NW. Venezuela). - Restrepia brachypusRestrepia brachypusRestrepia brachypus, the Short-column Foot Restrepia, is a species of orchid occurring from western South America to Venezuela....
: Short-column Foot Restrepia (W. South America to Venezuela). - Restrepia chameleonRestrepia chameleonRestrepia chameleon, the Color-changing Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia....
: Color-changing Restrepia (Colombia). - Restrepia chocoensis : Chocó Restrepia (Colombia).
- Restrepia chrysoglossa (Colombia).
- Restrepia citrinaRestrepia citrinaRestrepia citrina Luer & R. Escobar, 1983, is an orchid, close related to the pleurothallinids .The epithet 'citrina' refers to the color of the lip....
: Lemon-yellow Restrepia (Colombia). - Restrepia cloesii (Peru).
- Restrepia condorensis : Condor-like Restrepia (SE. Ecuador).
- Restrepia contortaRestrepia contortaRestrepia contorta, the Twisted Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to western South America....
: Twisted Restrepia (W. South America). - Restrepia cupreaRestrepia cupreaRestrepia cuprea, the Copper-colored Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia....
: Copper-colored Restrepia (Colombia). - Restrepia cymbula (Ecuador).
- Restrepia dodsoniiRestrepia dodsoniiRestrepia dodsonii, commonly called the Dodson's Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to Ecuador ....
: Dodson's Restrepia (Ecuador). - Restrepia echinata (E. Colombia to Peru).
- Restrepia echo (Colombia).
- Restrepia elegansRestrepia elegansRestrepia elegans, commonly called the Elegant Restrepia, is a species of orchid occurring from Colombia to northwestern Venezuela....
: Elegant Restrepia (Colombia to NW. Venezuela). - Restrepia ephippium (Ecuador).
- Restrepia escobariana (Colombia).
- Restrepia falkenbergiiRestrepia falkenbergiiRestrepia falkenbergii, commonly called the Falkenberg's Restrepia, is an epiphytic orchid, found at altitudes between 1,000-2,000 m in Colombia....
: Falkenberg's Restrepia (Colombia). - Restrepia flosculataRestrepia flosculataRestrepia flosculata, commonly called the Small-flowered Restrepia, is a species of orchid occurring from Colombia to northwestern Ecuador....
: Small-flowered Restrepia Colombia to NW. Ecuador). - Restrepia guttulataRestrepia guttulataRestrepia guttulata, commonly called the Small-spotted Restrepia, is a species of orchid occurring from Venezuela to Ecuador....
: Small-spotted Restrepia (Venezuela to Ecuador). - Restrepia irisRestrepia irisRestrepia iris, commonly called the Rainbow Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern Ecuador....
: Rainbow Restrepia (SE. Ecuador). - Restrepia jesupiana (Venezuela).
- Restrepia lansbergiiRestrepia lansbergiiRestrepia lansbergii is a species of orchid found from northwestern Venezuela to north-central Peru....
(NW. Venezuela to NC. Peru). - Restrepia limbata (Colombia).
- Restrepia mendozae (SE. Ecuador).
- Restrepia metae (Colombia).
- Restrepia mohrii : Mohr's Restrepia (Peru).
- Restrepia musciferaRestrepia musciferaRestrepia muscifera, commonly known as the Fly-carrying Restrepia, is a species of orchid.The epithet 'muscifera' is a Latin word, meaning 'fly bearing'...
: Fly-carrying Restrepia (S. Mexico to Ecuador). - Restrepia nittiorhynchaRestrepia nittiorhynchaRestrepia nittiorhyncha is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia....
(Colombia). - Restrepia pandurataRestrepia pandurataRestrepia pandurata is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia....
(Colombia). - Restrepia pelyx (Colombia).
- Restrepia piperitosa (Peru).
- Restrepia portillae (Ecuador).
- Restrepia purpurea : Purple Restrepia (Colombia).
- Restrepia radulifera (Venezuela).
- Restrepia renzii (Venezuela).
- Restrepia roseolaRestrepia roseolaRestrepia roseola, the Rosy Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to Venezuela....
: Rosy Restrepia (Venezuela). - Restrepia sanguineaRestrepia sanguineaRestrepia sanguinea, the Blood Red Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to Venezuela....
: Blood Red Restrepia (Colombia). - Restrepia schizosepalaRestrepia schizosepalaRestrepia schizosepala is a species of orchid endemic to northeastern Ecuador....
(NE. Ecuador). - Restrepia seketii (Colombia).
- Restrepia tabeae : Tabe's Restrepia (Colombia).
- Restrepia teagueiRestrepia teagueiRestrepia teaguei, commonly called the Teague's Restrepia, is a species of orchid endemic to Ecuador ....
: Teague's Restrepia (Ecuador). - Restrepia tentaculata - now synonym of Lindleyalis tentaculata (Poepp. & Endl.) Luer 2004
- Restrepia trichoglossaRestrepia trichoglossaRestrepia trichoglossa, commonly called the Hairy-tongued Restrepia, is a species of orchid found from Mexico to Peru....
: Hairy Tongued Restrepia (Mexico - Chiapas to Ecuador) - Restrepia tsubotae (Colombia).
- Restrepia vasquezii : Vasquez' Restrepia (Bolivia).
- Restrepia wageneriRestrepia wageneriRestrepia wageneri is a species of orchid endemic to northwestern Venezuela....
(NW. Venezuela).