Restrepia

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Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names



Read about Restrepia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Restrepia (Joseph Emanuel Restrep, a student of natural history in the tropics). Orchidaceae. Very interesting little plants, allied to Masdevallia and not unlike that genus in habit and appearance.

Stems tufted on creeping rhizomes, each bearing a single lf. and clothed below with scales; fl.-sts. appear from the axil of the lvs.: perennial, producing fls. for several years in succession: dorsal sepal free, ending in a filiform, clavate tail; lateral sepals united into a broad blade, bifid only at the apex; petals like the dorsal sepal, but smaller; labellum oblong or ovate, often with 2 small teeth near the base.—About 40 species, from Brazil to Mex., few of which are cult, for their curious fls. They are easily grown at a temperature suited for cool odontoglossums (40-55°). They thrive well planted in a mixture of peat and sphagnum in baskets, which are usually suspended near the glass. They have no definite resting period, but do not require so large a quantity of water in winter as during their most active growth. Pot moderately firm, and rest in a coolhouse.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.



Restrepia
Antennae-carrying Restrepia (Restrepia antennifera)
Antennae-carrying Restrepia
(Restrepia antennifera)
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Pleurothallidinae
Genus: Restrepia
Kunth

Species
See text

Restrepia 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.

Description

These tiny epiphytic and rarely lithophytic orchids lack pseudobulbs. The erect, thick, leathery leaf is elliptic-ovate in shape. The aerial roots 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 (synsepals) 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 petals 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 bracts. 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.

Species

The representative species is Restrepia antennifera.

Three subgenera are recognized.

Elegant Restrepia
(Restrepia elegans)
Hairy Tongued Restrepia
(Restrepia trichoglossa)

Gallery

  • Restrepia aristulifera

  • Restrepia aspasicensium

  • Restrepia brachypus

  • Restrepia citrina.jpg

    Restrepia citrina

  • Restrepia contorta

  • Restrepia cuprea

  • Restrepia dodsonii

  • Restrepia elegans

  • Restrepia flosculata

  • Restrepia guttulata

  • [Restrepia iris

  • Restrepia lansbergii

  • Restrepia nittiorhyncha

  • Restrepia pandurata

  • Restrepia roseola

  • Restrepia sanguinea

  • Restrepia teaguei

  • Restrepia trichoglossa

  • Restrepia wageneri

Reference

  • Luer, C.A. (1996). Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIII - Systematics of Restrepia. Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri; 168 p, 16 color plates, 63 line drawings; ISBN 0-915279-39-8

External link

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