Sobralia
Encyclopedia
Sobralia is a genus
of about 125 orchids (family
Orchidaceae) and the only genus of the subtribe Sobraliinae.
It is native to Central
and South America
. The plants are more commonly terrestrial, but are also found growing epiphytically
, in wet forests from sea level
to about 8,800 ft. The genus was named for Dr. Francisco Sobral, a Spanish botanist. The genus is abbreviated Sob in trade journals.
Their reed-like stems
range in height from about 1 ft (33 cm) (such as in Sobralia galeottiana) to 25–30 ft. (10 m) They have typically heavily veined, bilobed, plicate, apical leaves
all along the stem. The inflorescence
s on the apex of the stem carry one or two successive ephemeral flower
s with large sepal
s and petal
s. The short duration of the flower is caused by a self-digesting enzyme
. The lip
is entire or lobed and clasps the column
at its base. This columns carries eight soft pollinia
. These flowers range in color from pure white to yellow, green, pink, purple, red, brown, and even a blue violet.
and Lindsayella Ames & C.Schweinf. are generally included here.
Others:
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 about 125 orchids (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) and the only genus of the subtribe Sobraliinae.
It is native to Central
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...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The plants are more commonly terrestrial, but are also found growing epiphytically
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...
, in wet forests from sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
to about 8,800 ft. The genus was named for Dr. Francisco Sobral, a Spanish botanist. The genus is abbreviated Sob in trade journals.
Their reed-like stems
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
range in height from about 1 ft (33 cm) (such as in Sobralia galeottiana) to 25–30 ft. (10 m) They have typically heavily veined, bilobed, plicate, apical leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
all along the stem. The 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 on the apex of the stem carry one or two successive ephemeral flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s with large 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...
s and 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. The short duration of the flower is caused by a self-digesting enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
. 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 entire or lobed and clasps the column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
at its base. This columns carries eight soft pollinia
Pollinium
Pollinium, or plural pollinia, is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant.They are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkweeds .Most orchids have waxy pollinia...
. These flowers range in color from pure white to yellow, green, pink, purple, red, brown, and even a blue violet.
Synonymy
The genera Cyathoglottis Poepp. & Endl., Fregea Rchb.f.Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach
Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach was an ornithologist, botanist and the foremost German orchidologist of the 19th century...
and Lindsayella Ames & C.Schweinf. are generally included here.
Species
A few more commonly cited species:- Sobralia decoraSobralia decoraSobralia decora, commonly known as the Beautiful Sobralia, is a species of orchid.- Note on sp. name and synonyma :There has been a lot of confusion and dubious determinations of this species in the 19th century, see the text in:...
- pink-lavender; from MexicoMexicoThe 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...
through Central America; - Sobralia dichotomaSobralia dichotomaSobralia dichotoma, commonly called the Two-piece Sobralia, is a species of orchid found from western South America to Venezuela. It is the type species of the genus Sobralia....
- reddish-brown with white and pink lip; from the AndesAndesThe 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...
; - Sobralia fimbriata - white to cream or pale yellow, with fimbriate lip and petals; Andes;
- Sobralia macranthaSobralia macranthaSobralia macrantha, commonly known as the Large-flowered Sobralia, is a species of orchid found from north-central and southern Mexico to Central America....
- pink-magenta; from Mexico through Central America; - Sobralia sessilis - pink-lavender; from South America;
- Sobralia xantholeuca - yellow; from ChiapasChiapasChiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
, Mex. and GuatemalaGuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
;
Others:
- Sobralia allenii L.O.Williams 1942.
- Sobralia altissima D.E.Benn. & Christenson 1999.
- Sobralia amabilis Rchb.f. L.O.Williams 1946.
- Sobralia anceps Schltr. 1924.
- Sobralia antioquiensis Schltr. 1920.
- Sobralia atropubescens Ames & C.Schweinf. 1930 : Black-haired Sobralia
- Sobralia augusta Hoehne. 1944
- Sobralia aurantiaca Linden & Rchb.f. 1854
- Sobralia biflora Ruiz & Pav. 1798.
- Sobralia bimaculata Garay 1975 : 2-Spot Sobralia
- Sobralia bletiae Rchb.f. 1852.
- Sobralia boliviensis Schltr. 1913.
- Sobralia buchtienii Schltr. 1929.
- Sobralia calliantha D.E.Benn. & Christenson. 2001
- Sobralia caloglossa Schltr. 1929 : Beautiful-lipped Sobralia
- Sobralia candida Poepp. & Endl. Rchb.f. 1853 : White Sobralia
- Sobralia carazoi Lank. & Ames 1924.
- Sobralia cataractarum Hoehne 1910 : Cataract Sobralia
- Sobralia cattleya Rchb.f. 1877.
- Sobralia chatoensis A.H.Heller & A.D.Hawkes 1966.
- Sobralia chrysantha Lindl. 1854.
- Sobralia chrysoleuca Rchb.f. 1873.
- Sobralia chrysostoma Dressler 2001 : Golden Mouth Sobralia
- Sobralia ciliata C.Presl C.Schweinf. ex Foldats 1969 : Fine-haired Sobralia
- Sobralia crispissima Dressler 2002.
- Sobralia crocea Poepp. & Endl. Rchb.f. 1853 : Saffron-yellow Sobralia
- Sobralia decoraSobralia decoraSobralia decora, commonly known as the Beautiful Sobralia, is a species of orchid.- Note on sp. name and synonyma :There has been a lot of confusion and dubious determinations of this species in the 19th century, see the text in:...
Bateman 1842 : Beautiful Sobralia - Sobralia densifoliata Schltr. 1920.
- Sobralia dichotomaSobralia dichotomaSobralia dichotoma, commonly called the Two-piece Sobralia, is a species of orchid found from western South America to Venezuela. It is the type species of the genus Sobralia....
Ruiz & Pav. 1798 : Two-piece Sobralia (type species) - Sobralia dissimilis Dressler 1995.
- Sobralia dorbignyana Rchb.f. 1873.
- Sobralia doremiliae Dressler 1995.
- Sobralia ecuadorana Dodson 1998 : Ecuadorian Sobralia
- Sobralia exilis Schltr. 1920.
- Sobralia fimbriata Poepp. & Endl. 1836 : Fringed Sobralia
- Sobralia fragransSobralia fragransSobralia fragrans, commonly known as the Fragrant Sobralia, is a species of orchid found from Mexico to southern tropical America....
Lindl. 1853 : Fragrant Sobralia - Sobralia fruticetorum Schltr. 1913.
- Sobralia galeottiana A.Rich. 1845 : Sitting Sobralia
- Sobralia gentryi Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia gloriana Dressler 2002.
- Sobralia gloriosa Rchb.f. 1873.
- Sobralia granitica G.A.Romero & Carnevali 2000.
- Sobralia hagsateri Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia hawkesii A.H.Heller 1966.
- Sobralia helleri A.D.Hawkes 1966.
- Sobralia herzogii Schltr. 1913 : Herzog's Sobralia
- Sobralia hirta D.E.Benn. & Christenson. 2001
- Sobralia hirtzii Dodson 2004 (Ecuador)
- Sobralia hoppii Schltr. 1924 : Hopp's Sobralia
- Sobralia infundibuligera Garay & Dunst. 1965 : Trumpet Sobralia
- Sobralia × intermedia P.H.Allen 1958.
- Sobralia kermesina Garay 1956.
- Sobralia kerryae Dressler 1998.
- Sobralia klotzscheana Rchb.f. 1850 : Klotzsch' Sobralia
- Sobralia labiata Warsz. & Rchb.f. 1852.
- Sobralia lancea Garay 1958 : Lanceolate Sobralia
- Sobralia leucoxantha Rchb.f. 1866 : White-yellow Sobralia
- Sobralia liliastrum Lindl. 1833 : Star-lily Sobralia
- Sobralia lindleyana Rchb.f. 1852.
- Sobralia lowii Rolfe 1890.
- Sobralia luerorum Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia luteola Rolfe 1898.
- Sobralia macdougallii Soto Arenas Pérez-García & Salazar 2002 publ. 2003.
- Sobralia macra Schltr. 1923.
- Sobralia macranthaSobralia macranthaSobralia macrantha, commonly known as the Large-flowered Sobralia, is a species of orchid found from north-central and southern Mexico to Central America....
Lindl. 1838 : Large-flowered Sobralia- Sobralia macrantha var. kienastiana Rchb.f. 1888.
- Sobralia macrantha var. macrantha
- Sobralia macrophyllaSobralia macrophyllaSobralia macrophylla, commonly known as the Large-leafed Sobralia, is a species of orchid found from Central America to southern tropical America....
Rchb.f. 1852 : Large-leafed Sobralia - Sobralia madisonii Dodson 1980.
- Sobralia maduroi Dressler 2004 (Colombia)
- Sobralia malmiana Pabst 1979.
- Sobralia malmquistiana Schltr. 1911.
- Sobralia margaritae Pabst 1977.
- Sobralia mariannae Dressler 2002.
- Sobralia mucronata Ames & C.Schweinf. 1925.
- Sobralia mutisii P.Ortiz 2004.
- Sobralia neudeckeri Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia nutans Dressler 2002.
- Sobralia odorata Schltr. 1924.
- Sobralia oliva-estevae Carnevali & I.Ramírez 1990.
- Sobralia oroana Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia paludosa Linden 1851.
- Sobralia paradisiaca Rchb.f. 1850.
- Sobralia pardalina Garay 1978.
- Sobralia parviflora L.O.Williams 1938.
- Sobralia persimilis Garay 1978.
- Sobralia pfavii Schltr. 1923.
- Sobralia piedadiae Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia portillae Christenson 2003.
- Sobralia powellii Schltr. 1922 : Powell's Sobralia
- Sobralia pulcherrima Garay 1978 : Very Beautiful Sobralia
- Sobralia pumila Rolfe 1893 : Dwarf Sobralia
- Sobralia purpurea Dressler 2000.
- Sobralia quinata Dressler 2003.
- Sobralia rigidissima Linden ex Rchb.f. 1854.
- Sobralia roezlii Rchb.f. 1873 : Roezl's Sobralia
- Sobralia rolfeana Schltr. 1922.
- Sobralia rondonii Hoehne 1910.
- Sobralia rosea Poepp. & Endl. 1836 : Rose-colored Sobralia
- Sobralia roseoalba Rchb.f. 1866.
- Sobralia ruckeri Linden & Rchb.f. 1854.
- Sobralia ruparupaensis D.E.Benn. & Christenson: 2001.
- Sobralia rupicola Kraenzl. 1908.
- Sobralia sancti-josephi Kraenzl. 1928.
- Sobralia sanfelicis Dressler 2004 (Panama)
- Sobralia schultzei Schltr. 1924.
- Sobralia scopulorum Rchb.f. 1873.
- Sobralia semperflorens Kraenzl. 1915.
- Sobralia setigera Poepp. & Endl. 1836.
- Sobralia sobralioides Kraenzl. Garay 1978.
- Sobralia speciosa C.Schweinf. 1961.
- Sobralia splendida Schltr. 1920.
- Sobralia stenophylla Lindl. 1854 : Thin-leafed Sobralia
- Sobralia stevensonii Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia tamboana Dodson 1998.
- Sobralia turkeliae Christenson 2002.
- Sobralia undatocarinata C.Schweinf. 1938.
- Sobralia uribei P.Ortiz 1994.
- Sobralia valida Rolfe 1909.
- Sobralia violacea Linden ex Lindl. 1846 : Violet Sobralia
- Sobralia virginalis Peeters & Cogn. 1899 : Virgin Sobralia
- Sobralia warszewiczii Rchb.f. 1852.
- Sobralia weberbaueriana Kraenzl. 1905.
- Sobralia wilsoniana Rolfe 1890.
- Sobralia withneri D.E.Benn. & Christenson: 2001 : Withner's Sobralia
- Sobralia xantholeuca B.S.Williams 1885 : Yellow-white Sobralia
- Sobralia yauaperyensis Barb. Rodr. 1891 : Yauaperi River Sobralia